LAKE CHARLES—In her first career start as a Cowgirl, junior outside hitter Anyse Smith led all players with 18 kills in McNeese's 3-1 (26-24, 25-16, 25-22, 25-21) Southland Conference win over Incarnate Word here Saturday. The win is the second over the Cardinals in the a week. McNeese picked up a 3-2 come from behind win at Incarnate Word last Saturday.
 
McNeese (11-9 5-4 SLC) also got double figure kills from three other players. Aryn Johnson ended the match with 12 kills while Kendall Glueck had 11, and Macee Krpec ended with 10. Johnson also picked up 11 digs to complete her double double.
 
Jaylin Gordon led McNeese with six blocks while Bria Plante was credited with five blocks. Setters Ceci Harness and Baylee Laskoskie continue to distribute the ball to the Cowgirls hitters with both players ending the match with 28 and 25 assists, respectively. Harness also had a double double on the day with 10 digs.  Libero Lizzy Low led all players with 18 digs.
 
Despite being out blocked 29-21 by the Cardinals (8-15, 3-6 SLC) the Cowgirls managed to jump out to a 2-0 lead by taking the first set 26-24 and the second set by a 25-16 score.
 
The Cardinals avoided the sweep by winning the third set 25-22 but Smith and Johnson stepped up in a big way in the fourth set with both players combining for 10 of the Cowgirls' 17 kills in the set. Smith hit .571 and Glueck hit .500 in the final set.
 
The fourth set was pretty much like the first three with the team's trading points. With the set tied at 19 all, Jaylin Gordan served for three straight point to put the Cowgirls up 22-19 including one ace. Following a Cowgirl attack error, Johnson put down a kill to extend the McNeese led to 23-20. UIW responded with a kill from Jacqueline Arrington before a UIW service ace put the Cowgirls at match point, 24-21. Smith ended the match with her 18^th kill to give the Cowgirls the 25-21 fourth set win and overall match victory.
 
MATCH NOTES
•- Junior outside hitter Anyse Smith started in her first game as a Cowgirl and led all players with 18 kills
•- McNeese had four players record double figure kills (Smith, Aryn Johnson, Kendall Glueck, Macee Krpec)
•- Johnson completed her double double with 11 digs to go along with 12 kills.
•- Ceci Harness also had a double double, dishing out a match high 28 assists and 10 digs
•- Baylee Laskoskie also had 25 assists
•- Lizzy Low led all players with 18 digs
•- Jaylin Gordon led McNeese with six blocks
•- Bria Plante was credited with five blocks