HUNTSVILLE, Texas—McNeese volleyball opened its 2025 season with a thrilling 3-2 win over Tulane Friday afternoon before falling in straight sets (3-0) to Sam Houston later in the day on the first day of the Sam Houston Invitational. 
 
The win over Tulane is the first season opening win for the Cowgirls since the 2021 season when McNeese defeated North Texas 3-2 at the North Texas Invitational.
 
McNeese will close out tournament action against Southern Illinois in a 9 a.m. match Saturday. 
 
 
SET-BY-SET SCORE vs. TULANE

• Set 1: McNeese 25, Tulane 23
• Set 2: McNeese 26, Tulane 24
• Set 3: Tulane 25, McNeese 22
• Set 4: Tulane 25, McNeese 18
• Set 5: McNeese 15, Tulane 11

 
• The Cowgirls were down 23-19 in set two and rallied to take the win 26-24 to jump out to a 2-0 match lead
• Tied at 11 in the fifth set, McNeese scored the next three points on a Tulane error and kills by Jordan Gamble and Kayla Wilson for 14-11 lead.  The two players closed out the win with a block assist for the 15-11 win.    
 
STAT LEADERS vs. TULANE

• Kills: D'Nari Mills - 17
• Assists: Kinga Ziolkowska - 50
• Digs: Neal Grace Berry - 23
• Blocks: Jordan Gamble - 5
• Aces: D'Nari Mills- 3

 
 SET-BY-SET SCORE vs. SAM HOUSTON

• Set 1: Sam Houston 25, McNeese 20
• Set 2: Sam Houston 25, McNeese 12
• Set 3: Sam Houston 25, McNeese 17

 
 STAT LEADERS vs. SAM HOUSTON

• Kills: D'Nari Mills - 10
• Assists: Kinga Ziolkowska - 16
• Digs: Lauren Fuller - 10
• Blocks: Jordan Gamble - 2
• Aces: Sophie Twigg- 1

 
 DAY 1 NOTES
• The 3-2 win over Tulane is the first season opening win for the Cowgirls since the 2021 season when McNeese defeated North Texas 3-2 at the North Texas Invitational
• Newcomer D'Nari Mills led the Cowgirls in kills in both matches- 17 against Tulane and 10 against Sam Houston
• Freshman Kinga Ziolkowska dished out a total of 66 assists on the day (50 against Tulane, 16 against Sam Houston)
• Jordan Gamble led the Cowgirls with seven blocks on the day
 
 RECORD SETTERS

• Lauren Fuller recorded a career high 12 digs in the win over Tulane
• Sophie Twigg recorded a career high 22 digs and four assists in the win over Tulane

 
 NEXT MATCH

• McNeese will conclude tournament with a 9 a.m. match Saturday morning against Southern Illinois

 
UPCOMING MATCHES
Sept. 4-6 Cowgirl Classic
Sept. 4 vs. Alcorn (6 p.m.)
Sept. 5 vs. UT-Arlington (6 p.m.)
Sept. 6 vs. UL-Monroe (1 p.m.)
Sept. 11-16 at Florida A&M Tournament
Sept. 19-20 at Houston Cougar Challenge
Sept. 25 at Southeastern*
Sept. 27 at New Orleans*
Oct. 2 at Houston Christian*
Oct. 4 at Incarnate Word*
Oct. 9 Lamar*
 
Home Match
*-Southland Conference Match