COMMERCE, Texas--  McNeese volleyball fell short in its comeback against Texas A&M-Commerce Saturday in the Cowgirls' Southland Conference opener, falling in four sets (25-22, 25-19, 18-25, 25-23). The loss drops the Cowgirls to 4-9 overall and 0-1 in the SLC while A&M Commerce improves to 6-9 overall and 3-0 in the SLC.
 
McNeese returns home for its next three matches beginning next Thursday, Oct. 3 to host Southeastern. 
 
Set 1
• The Lions held a 12-8 lead and then a 20-15 lead
• McNeese pulled to within two points (20-18) on a kill by McKenzie Moore
• The Cowgirls got as close as one point (23-22) on a Moore kill but the Lions would score the next two points on a kill and a service ace
 
Set 2
• The set consisted of 13 ties, six lead changes
• Neither team held more than a two-point lead until the Lions took a 20-17 lead on a kill, a Cowgirl blocking error and a Commerce ace.
• Commerce went on a run to take a 23-18 lead, its largest of the match before closing out the set to take a 2-0 overall match lead
 
Set 3
• McNeese avoided the straight set sweep by winning the set
• The Cowgirls jumped out to an early 3-0 lead and never gave up the lead
• McNeese went on a 4-0 run to take a 14-10 lead and then extended the lead to 19-11
• The closest Commerce would get would be 22-17 but the Cowgirls ended the set on a 3-1 run to avoid the sweep
 
Set 4
• Cowgirls took an early 4-1 lead, but the Lions would go on a run to take an 8-5 lead
• A block by the Cowgirls tied the set at 11 apiece
• Cowgirls took a 12-11 lead on a kill by McKenzie Moore
• McNeese led 20-15 on a kill by McKenzie Moore but the Lions ended the set on a
10-3 run to win the set and the match

POST MATCH NOTES
• McKenzie Moore led all players with 25 kills, three shy of tying her career high
• Lacie Schooley also recorded double figure kills with 12
• Both Moore and Schooley ended the match with a hitting percent above .300.  Moore has a .323 hitting percent and Schooley had a .321 hitting percent
• As a team, the Cowgirls out blocked the Lions 23-11
• Naterah Moore led all players with a career high eight blocks
• Megan Grose added five blocks, a career high for her
• Grose also recorded a double double with 20 assists and 13 digs