DENTON, Texas-  McNeese volleyball picked up where they left off earlier in the day Friday by ending the first day of the North Texas Invitational with a straight set (25-16, 25-16, 25-17) win over Grambling to remain undefeated at 2-0 to start the season.
 
McNeese will conclude tournament play against South Dakota State at 11 a.m. Saturday.
 
"Overall it was a great day and a boost to our players confidence to finish today at 2-0," said head coach Kristee Porter.
 
For the second straight year under Porter's guidance, McNeese has started the season 2-0. Last year, the Cowgirls opened their conference only season with wins over Southeastern La. and Nicholls.
 
Freshman outside hitter Aryn Johnson continued to pace the Cowgirls, ending the match with a match high 10 kills to go along with her .389 hitting percent.
 
Setter Baylee Laskoskie dished out a match high 13 assists, her second consecutive match with 10 or more assists. The Cowgirls' other setter Ceci Harness did her damage behind the service line where she picked up a career high five service aces.
 
McNeese took the lead in the opening set and never looked back, jumping out to a 12-3 lead before going on to pick up the first set win.
 
McNeese scored the first point of set 2 and the match remained a one-point difference until Harness served for four straight points to put the Cowgirls up 8-3. The Cowgirls extended their lead to 16-8 on another service ace, this time by Johnson. Grambling got as close as 21-14 before McNeese closed out the set by winning four of the final six points for the 25-16 win.
 
A Kendall Glueck kill to open set 3 then a Grambling error once again gave McNeese the early lead. Leading 6-3, it was Harness again behind the service line that extended the McNeese lead to 9-3 on a service ace and two Tiger errors.
 
Several Grambling errors allowed McNeese to take a 21-11 lead before a Cowgirl kill followed by three more Tiger errors gave McNeese the 25-17 third set and overall match win.
 
 
NOTABLES
• It's the second straight year the Cowgirls get off to a 2-0 start under second year head coach Kristee Porter
• Freshman Aryn Johnson led McNeese in kills (10) for the second straight match
• Setter Baylee Laskoskie dished out a match high 13 assists, her second straight match with 10 or more assists.
• Setter Ceci Harness recorded a career high five service aces