NACOGDOCHES, Texas- McNeese volleyball put up a valiant effort here Saturday morning but fell short in a five set, 3-2 (25-22, 18-25, 17-25, 25-20, 11-15) loss to South Alabama to close out tournament action at the Stephen F. Austin Hampton Inn Invitational.
 
The five set match was the second straight for the Cowgirls (1-5) who was on the winning side in its 3-2 win over Tulsa Friday evening for its first win of the season.
 
McKenzie Moore had a career day against South Alabama (3-3(, leading the Cowgirls with a career high 11 kills and a career high six blocks. Maria Perales led with 20 assists while Lizzy Low led with 18 digs. Kendall Osgood was credited with a career high three service aces. Dejah Dade who had 19 assists, was credited with a career high seven blocks.
 
The Cowgirls fought their way back from a 2-1 overall match deficit to even the match at two sets apiece with a 25-20 set four win.
 
With the fourth set tied at three apiece, Mikayla Christiansen served for five straight points to put the Cowgirls up 8-4. Following a Jaguar attack error, McNeese scored three more points off the serve of Bailey Tillman to take an 11-5 lead.
 
South Alabama made a late run and pulled to within two points (21-19) but McNeese went on to outscore the Jaguars 4-1 to win the set and evened the match at two sets apiece.
 
The Jaguars jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the fifth set but a 3-1 run by McNeese pulled the Cowgirls to within one point (5-4) following a Moore kill.
 
USA held an 8-5 lead as the teams switched sides. A kill by Kendall Glueck and a USA hitting error brought McNeese to within one point (11-10) and then 12-11 on another USA attack error. Unfortunately, that would be as close as the Cowgirls would come as USA would score the final three points of the set to win the match.

Kendall Glueck and Bailey Tillman were both named to the All-Tournanament Team.
 
McNeese will travel to Rice next Tuesday for a 6 p.m. match then will follow that up with its third tournament of the season on the weekend when they will travel to San Antonio to take part in the UTSA Invitational.
 
 McNeese Match Notes
• It's the second straight five set match for the Cowgirls
• McKenzie Moore was the only Cowgirl to record double figure kills with a career high 11.
• Moore also recorded a career high six blocks
• Dejah Dade led the Cowgirls with seven blocks, her career high
• Mia Perales led with 20 assists
• Kendall Osgood recorded a career high three service aces
• Lizzy Low led with 18 digs
• Mikayla Christiansen recorded a career high seven kills and eight digs
• Kendall Glueck and Bailey Tillman were named to the All-Tournament team
 
 McNeese Stat Leaders
Kills: 11, McKenzie Moore
Assists: 20, Mia Perales
Digs: 18, Lizzy Low
Blocks: 7, Dejah Dade