LAKE CHARLES—McNeese volleyball began its three-match home stand Thursday night with a straight set 3-0 (25-12, 25-18, 25-15 Southland Conference win over Northwestern State to improve to 8-13 overall and 6-2 in the SLC.  NW State falls to 9-11 on the season and 5-4 in the league.
 
McNeese dominated the match by holding the Demons offense to a .073 hitting percent while the Cowgirls ended the match with a .219 hitting percent.  McNeese ended the match with 40 kills while NW State was credited with 25.
 
The Demons, who entered the match leading the conference in blocks was held to three on the night while the Cowgirls picked up six.
 
The Cowgirls defense, led by a match high 25 digs by Bailey Tillman was all over the court tonight which also aided in holding the Demons to their hitting percent.  Kendall Osgood and McKenzie Moore were also credited with double figure digs.  Osgood picked up 13 and Moore had 10.  Moore led all players with 12 kills to record her second double double of the season.
 
McNeese was equally strong from the service line, picking up five aces with Tshilanda Diouf leading the way with a career high three aces.
 
The Cowgirls will continue their home stand with a 1 p.m. match against Houston Christian Saturday.
 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
• McNeese scored the first point of the set and never looked back
• With the scored tied at two apiece, McNeese went on a 6-0 run to lead 8-2 then another run extended the lead to 16-7.
• McNeese closed out the set on a 9-5 run to take the set
 
Set 2
• The second set was back and forth until Sanni Rantanen broke a 15 -15 tie with a kill that ignited an 8-0 Cowgirl run behind the serve of Bailey Tillman for a 23-15 lead.
•  McNeese held NW State to three more points in the set, but a McKenzie Moore kill ended the set for a 2-0 Cowgirl lead.
 
Set 3
• NW State scored the first point but a 4-0 run by the Cowgirls behind the serve of Tshilanda Diouf put the Cowgirls up 4-1.
• NW State got as close as two points (9-7) but a 6-3 run by McNeese gave the Cowgirls a 15-10 lead
• Another McNeese run extended the lead to 20-14 before McNeese ended the set and the match on a 5-1 run
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
• McKenzie Moore recorded her second double double of the season with a match high 12 kills along with 10 digs
• McNeese collected 70 digs and had three players with 10 or more digs
• Bailey Tillman led all players with 25, Kendall Osgood added 13, and Moore with 10
• McNeese was credited with six blocks with Sanni Rantanen leading the way with four
• Tshilanda Diouf led all players with a career high three aces
• Megan Grose led all players with 34 assists
• McNeese held NW State to less than a .200 hitting percent in each of the three sets
• NW State, who entered the match leading the SLC in blocks were held to three