LAKE CHARLES—McNeese volleyball prevailed 3-2 (25-23, 22-25, 25-23, 23-25, 15-13) in a thrilling Southland Conference match over Houston Christian here Tuesday night to extend its winning streak to seven matches and alone atop the league standings.
 
In a match that had 34 ties and 19 lead changes, both teams put forth an effort that gave fans what they came to watch and more.
 
McNeese held a 2-1 match lead but HCU (18-9, 10-4 SLC) won the fourth set to send the match to a deciding fifth set.
 
The Cowgirls opened the fifth set with an 11-5 lead but three straight points by the Huskies cut the Cowgirl lead to 11-7. HCU went on another run, this time a 5-0 run with McNeese leading 13-9 to tie the set at 13 all. Mikayla Christiansen's kill put the Cowgirls up 14-13 and a HCU attack error on the next serve ended the match in favor of the Cowgirls.
 
McNeese (15-13, 11-3 SLC) placed four players in double figure kills, was led by Skyeler Embry's double double with a career high 19 kills and a career high 21 digs. The double double is Embry's third straight.
 
Joining Embry in double figures was Kendall Glueck with 17 kills while McKenzie Moore and Mikayla Christiansen both ended the match with 10 apiece.
 
Three other players picked up double figure digs with Bailey Tillman ending with 20 digs while Lizzy Low was credited with 18 and Kendall Osgood collecting 14. Osgood also picked up a match high three aces.
 
Freshman Sanni Rantanen continues to dominate at the net where she led McNeese with six blocks on the night.
 
HCU also placed four players in double figure kills and five players with double figure digs. Sara Arroyo led the Huskies with 20 kills while Kaley Feris led the team with 17 digs.
 
McNeese will travel to Texas this weekend for a Thursday match at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and a Saturday match at Incarnate Word to conclude the regular season road matches.
 
McNEESE NOTES
• The match consisted of 34 ties and 19 lead changes
• McNeese has won its last seven matches, longest winning streak this season
• Have won 10 of last 11 matches
• Seven of last 10 wins have been in straight sets
• Have a 30-8 won-loss set record in last 11 matches
• Both teams had four players with double figure kills
• Skyeler Embry recorded her third straight double double with a career high 19 kills and a career high 21 digs
• McNeese had a total of four players with double figure digs
• Sanni Rantanen led the Cowgirls with seven blocks
• Mia Perales led McNeese with 31 assists, her fourth match with 30 or more assists this season
• Bailey Tillman recorded 20 digs, her 10^th match this season with 20 or more digs