NEW ORLEANS— McNeese volleyball had to scrap and battle in the first two sets before cruising to the third set win to pick up a 3-0 (25-21, 28-26, 25-16) Southland Conference road win at New Orleans Saturday.  The win marks the second McNeese win over UNO this season.
 
"UNO came out the gates really strong in set one and we played timid and, on our heels," said head coach Sasha Karelov.  "We weren't communicating well and made a lot of unforced errors through the first two sets.  In set three, we flipped the switch and played confident in our abilities which resulted in a more efficient set.  It wasn't a clean match, but we found a way to get it done."
 
With the win, McNeese improves to 10-14 overall and 8-3 in the SLC.  The loss drops UNO to 4-18 overall and 2-9 in the SLC.
 
Carissa Chainey led all players with 13 kills and recorded her eighth double double of the season with the addition of 12 digs.
 
McKenzie Moore was superb from behind the service line as she ended the match with seven aces including four straight early in the second set.
 
"Carissa (Chainey) was lights out both offensively and defensively and McKenzie (Moore) took charge behind the service line."
 
The back row of Bailey Tillman and Kendall Osgood combined for 32 of the 59 Cowgirl digs.  Tillman led all players with 20 digs and Osgood added 12.
 
"I credit our back row, Osgood and Tillman for staying consistent with their play and their voices," said Karelov.
 
At the net it was Tshilanda Diouf who was credited with six blocks as the Cowgirls picked up 17 blocks on the day.
 
Setter Emma Hendricks managed the match with 26 assists and added a little offense with six kills.
 
McNeese will travel to Nicholls next Tuesday and will return home next Thursday and Saturday to host Incarnate Word at 4 p.m., Oct. 26 and Texas A&M-Commerce at 11 a.m. on Oct. 28.
 
 
 
SET 1
• UNO jumped out to an early 7-1 lead
• McNeese got on track and went on a run to take a 10-9 lead
• UNO led 18-15 but the Cowgirls rallied with a 5-1 run to take a 20-19 lead before winning the set 25-21
 
SET 2
• McNeese took the early 8-3 lead on four straight aces by McKenzie Moore
• UNO rallied with a 6-1 run to tie the set at 10 all
• 12 ties later and the score at 26 apiece, McNeese scored the next two points on UNO hitting errors to win the set to take a 2-0 lead
 
SET 3
• For the second straight set, McNeese took the early lead at 12-5 and never looked back
• McKenzie Moore collected two more aces extended the Cowgirls lead to 15-5
• UNO pulled to withing 22-15 behind three straight points
• The Cowgirls got kills by Emma Hendricks and Sanni Rantanen to seal the win and the match
 
 
MATCH NOTES
• It's the second win over UNO this season and the seventh straight win over the Privateers
• McNeese has also won 13 of the last 14 matches against UNO
The match consisted of 21 ties and nine lead changes
• Carissa Chainey recorded her eighth double double of the season leading all players with 13 kills along with 12 digs
• McKenzie Moore added 10 kills and put down a career high seven aces including four straight in the second set
• Bailey Tillman and Kendall Osgood combined for 32 of the Cowgirls' 59 digs.
• Tillman led all players with 20 digs
• Osgood was credited with 12 digs
• Emma Hendricks led all players with 26 assists and added six kills
• Tshilanda Diouf led McNeese at the net with six blocks