HOUSTON, Texas—It was a battle of the league's top two volleyball statistical team leaders as McNeese and Houston Baptist battled it out here Saturday in the Southland Conference opener but the Huskies prevailed 3-0 (23-25, 20-25, 23-25) in a match that consisted of 35 ties and 18 lead changes.
 
McNeese (6-6, 0-1 SLC) was once again led by freshman Aryn Johnson who was the only Cowgirl to record double figure kills with 11. Jaylin Gordon recorded a career high seven blocks also had a .375 hitting percent. Bria Plante led McNeese with a .444 hitting percent on four kills in nine attempts without an error.
 
HBU (10-5, 1-0) was placed to players with double figure kills. Anna Gadway led the Huskies with 11 and Ebonie Ballesteros was credited with 10. Ballesteros who led the SLC in blocks a year ago, led all players with a match high nine blocks.
 
McNeese will return home for its next two matches. The Cowgirls will host Nicholls at 6:30 p.m. next Thursday and New Orleans at 1 p.m. next Saturday.
 
NOTABLES
• Jayln Gordon picked up a career high seven blocks
• Aryn Johnson led McNeese with 11 kills
• Ceci Harness picked up 24 assists, she now has dished out 10 or more assists in 11 of 12 matches
• Lizzy Low led all players with 12 digs
 
 
 Set 1
Following a long rally, the Cowgirls tied the set at 12 before taking a 14-12 lead on two more HBU errors but HBU answered with three straight points to take a slim 15-14 lead. With the set tied at 21, HBU outscored McNeese 4-2 to take the set.
 
Set 2
HBU scored the first two points but McNeese scored four straight to take a 4-2 lead. HBU picked up several blocks and scored six straight points to extend the lead to 17-8. McNeese rallied to score eight straight late in the set to pull to within two (20-18) on a block by Bria Plante. HBU would go on to outscore McNeese 5-2 to rest of the set to take a 2-0 overall match lead.
 
Set 3
Like the first two sets, both teams traded points early and often.
With the set tied at 13, McNeese went on a 5-1 run to take an 18-14 lead. HBU rallied behind several blocks to take a 19-18 lead. HBU would go on to outscore McNeese with eight of last nine points to take a 23-20. A kill by Glueck tied the set at 23 but a block by HBU then a Cowgirl miscommunication on the match point serve led to a Husky point and the win.