THIBODAUX—McNeese volleyball had a block party here Thursday night in its straight set (25-22, 25-18, 25-19) Southland Conference road win over Nicholls.
McNeese (6-12, 2-2 SLC) out blocked Nicholls 15-9 behind
McKenzie Moore's career high eight blocks.
Kendall Glueck picked up seven blocks and
Sanni Rantanen had six.
Mikayla Christiansen ended the match with five, a career high for her as well.
The loss drops Nicholls to 4-12 overall and 1-3 in the SLC.
Sanni Rantanen led the Cowgirls with nine kills, tying her career high while Glueck chipped in with eight kills.
Mia Perales recorded a her seventh double double of the season and third in the last four matches with a match high 18 assists to go along with 11 digs.
Lizzy Low also recorded double figure digs with 10 and
Dejah Dade was credited with 13 assists.
McNeese will return home Saturday, Oct. 1 to host New Orleans in a 1 p.m. match on "Youth Day". Kids 13 and under will be allowed to join the Cowgirls on the court for the starting lineup and National Anthem. The Cowgirls will also conduct an autograph session following the match.
HEAD COACH SASHA KARELOV POST MATCH QUOTES
"I thought we did a great job of sticking to the scouting report and staying in the moment. We put a lot of pressure on Nicholls behind the service line which helped our defense set up and block a ton of balls. Our middles-
McKenzie Moore and
Sanni Rantanen worked hard in transition and came up huge offensively."
SET 1
• With the set tied at six apiece, McNeese scored three straight points off the serve of
Nadia Manitzas to take a 9-6 lead.
• Nicholls got within one point with McNeese leading 10-9 and again at 11-10 but back to back kills by
Kendall Glueck and a kill by
McKenzie Moore gave McNeese a 14-10 lead.
• Nicholls would score four straight points including two blocks to even the set at 14.
• The Colonels would take a 16-15 lead but two straight kills by
Mikayla Christiansen and a kill by
Sanni Rantanen put McNeese up 18-16.
• The match continued to go back and forth the rest of the way
• With McNeese trailing 22-21, the Cowgirls closed out the set by scoring the final four points including an ace by
Lizzy Low on set point.
SET 2
• The set started off going back and forth like the first set
• With the set tied at five, McNeese took advantage two Nicholls errors while picking up an ace by
Sanni Rantanen, a block solo by
McKenzie Moore and Deja Dade and a kill by Dade to extend the McNeese lead to 9-5 and led the rest of the way.
• Leading 13-10, the Cowgirls went on a 3-1 run to lead 16-11 on a Nicholls service error.
• With a 16-13 lead, a Nicholls error and a kill by Hanic extended the McNeese lead to 18-13.
• Following a Nicholls timeout, McNeese scored four straight points to take a 21-14 lead before going on to win the set to take a 2-0 match lead.
SET 3
• With the set tied a two apiece, Nicholls outscored McNeese 7-3 to lead 9-5.
• Trailing 11-5, McNeese reeled off seven straight points behind the serve of Rantanen to take a 12-11 lead.
• After Nicholls tied the set at 12 all, McNeese scored four straight points to lead 16-12.
• Nicholls would come back to tie the set at 17 all, but the Cowgirls closed out the set on an 8-2 run to win the set and the match.
