NATCHITOCHES—Career matches by McKenzie Moore, Bailey Tillman, and Tshilanda Diouf erased a 2-0 early match deficit in a McNeese volleyball 3-2 (24-26, 24-26, 25-19, 25-15, 15-10) comeback Southland Conference win over Northwestern State Saturday.
 
"We started the first two sets off a little tight, not settling the chaos on our side of the net," said head coach Sasha Karelov.  "During the break, we made some adjustments and reset.  We came out with an intense belief that we were taking them to five sets.  Overall, it was an incredibly gritty win and I'm so proud of our response to all the adversity today."
 
The Cowgirls, who have won six straight and 13 of their last 16 matches, improve to 15-14 overall and 13-3 in league play.
 
Junior McKenzie Moore put the Cowgirls on her back on offense and came away with a career high 28 kills and a .436 hitting percent.  Moore committed only four errors in 55 attempts.
 
"Kenzie was absolutely lights out today in all aspects of her game."
 
Tillman also recorded a career high in digs, ending the match with 34 .  The 34 digs is the second time this season and fifth time in her career she records over 30 digs.
 
Diouf was solid at the net who tied her career high with seven blocks including the final block of the fifth set to give the Cowgirls the victory.
 
"Tshilanda made some incredible blocks in the fifth set which inspired our team to pull away."
 
Moore was joined in double figure kills by Kayla Wilson's 13 and Sanni Rantanen's 11.
 
"Kayla took some huge swings in very tough out-of-system situations."
 
The Cowgirls ended the match with 92 digs with Kendall Osgood picking up 16, Megan Grose who produced a double-double with a match high 57 assists, also had 14 digs.  Carissa Chainey ended the match with 11 digs.
 
"Bailey and Kendall were calm and consistent throughout the entire match, even when things weren't going out way."
 
Northwestern State (13-14, 9-7 SLC) lived up to their billing as being the best blocking team in the league.  The Demons ended the match with 24 blocks including 20 block assists.
 
Teresa Garza led the Demons with 17 kills while Reaghan Thompson led the blocking with seven.
 
SET 1
• The set consisted of several ties
• McNeese held a slim 11-9 lead early on
• NW State held a 23-21 lead but two kills by McKenzie Moore tied the set at 23
• Another kill by Moore tied the set at 24 before NW State took advantage of a McNeese error before a kill ended the set  
 
SET 2
• McNeese erased a six-point deficit, trailing 23-17 to score seven straight points to take a 24-23
• NW State would score the next three points to take the set and a 2-0 lead
 
SET 3
• After a longer than normal intermission, McNeese avoided the sweep with the third set win
• McNeese took the early lead and never looked back after taking a 7-4 lead
• NW State got within one point (14-13) but a 5-0 Cowgirl run pushed the lead to 19-13
• McNeese finished the set off with three straight points
 
SET 4
• After both teams traded points early in the set and with the set tied at 11, McNeese scored six straight points behind three kills from McKenzie Moore to lead 17-11.
• NW State wouldn't get any closer as McNeese would outscore the Demons 8-2 the rest of the way to even the match and send it to a deciding fifth set.
 
SET 5
• McNeese got off to a quick 8-2 lead and then led 10-7
• McNeese scored the next three point to lead 13-7 on blocks by Kayla Wilson and Tshilanda Diouf
• A 3-0 run off kills by NW State's Teresa Garza pulled the Demons to withing three at 13-10
• A kill by Carissa Chainey put McNeese up 14-10 then Diouf came up with another block to end the set and completed the Cowgirl comeback
 
McNEESE NOTES
• The win is the second over NW State this season
• McNeese has won its last six matches and 13 of its last 16 matches
• McNeese was credited with a season high 18 blocks
• McKenzie Moore and Bailey Tillman recorded career highs while Tshilanda Diouf tied a career high
• McKenzie Moore led all players with a career high 28 kills and had a match high .436 hitting percent.
• Bailey Tillman had a career high 34 digs.  The 34 digs for Tillman is the second match this season and fifth career match Tillman records over 30 digs.
• Tshilanda Diouf tied her career high with seven blocks with the seventh block coming on match point.