AUBURN, Ala.—McNeese volleyball ran into a blocking wall here Saturday it's 3-0 (25-15, 25-15, 25-22) loss against a much taller Auburn team in the final match of the War Eagle Invitational.
 
Auburn (2-0) ended the match with 14 blocks and a .333 team hitting percent.  On the other side of the net, McNeese (0-3) picked up four blocks and hit .097.
 
The Cowgirls were led in kills by McKenzie Moore who had seven and led the team with a .429 hitting percent.  Setter Megan Grose was credited with 22 assists and three Cowgirls (Carisa Chainey, Kendall Osgood, Bailey Tillman) led McNeese with eight kills apiece.
 
Auburn was led by sophomore Akasha Anderson, the AVCA South Region Freshman of the Year last season who recorded a match high 14 kills to go along with her eight digs.  Bella Bell was the other Tiger to record double figure kills with 11.  Kendal Kemp led Auburn's blocking with five blocks including three block assists.
 
McNeese will close out its first weekend of the season with a 5 p.m. match at No. 19 Houston on Sunday.
 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
• The set was close for the first 18 points until Auburn went on a mini run to lead 13-8
• McNeese never got within fewer than five points the rest of the set
 
Set 2
• Another slow start by McNeese allowed Auburn to take an 8-4 lead.
• Auburn increased its lead to 20-10 before going on for the second set win
 
Set 3
• Cowgirls took an early lead 4-2 behind a kill from Kayla Wilson and then a kill by Carissa Chainey extended the lead to 11-7
• With McNeese leading 14-9, Auburn went on an 11-2 run to take a 20-16 lead
• McNeese rallied to within one point by outscoring Auburn 5-1 to tie the set at 21 on a kill by Sanni Rantanen
• Auburn would end the set on a 4-1 run to win the match
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
• Auburn out blocked McNeese 14-6
• McKenzie Moor led McNeese in kills with seven and a .429 hitting percent
• Three Cowgirls led the team with eight digs apiece (Carissa Chainey, Kendall Osgood, Bailey Tillman)
• Megan Grose was credited with
• Auburn was led by 2022 AVCA South Region Freshman of the Year Akasha Anderson who ended with a match high 14 kills.
• Bella Bell led the Auburn blocking with five blocks