SAN ANTONIO, Texas— McNeese volleyball came close to pulling off a Southland Conference upset Thursday night over Incarnate Word but fell to the Cardinals in five sets (25-19, 23-25, 25-16, 22-25, 15-6). The Cowgirls will finish their Texas trip with an 11 a.m. match at Houston Christian on Saturday.
The loss snapped the Cowgirls' three match losing streak as they fall to 8-12 overall and 4-5 in the SLC. The Cardinals improve to 9-9 overall and 7-2 in the SLC.
Gabbie Maldonado was the only Cowgirls to reach double figure kills, ending the match with 16, one kill shy of tying her career high.
Both teams played solid defense with the Cowgirls picking up 80 digs and the Cardinals with 83.
Gaby Santiago led all players with a career high 28 digs.
Megan Grose recorded her fourth double double by ending the match with 19 assists and 13 digs.
Corynne Hausler added 17 assists and
Carli Banks picked up 12 digs.
Sophia Tocmo was the fourth Cowgirls to picked up double figure digs. Tocmo ended the match with 10 digs.
UIW's block defense was present tonight as the Cardinals ended the match with 16 blocks, all block assists. Sofia Grimm accounted for six block assists and was one of four Cardinals to record at least 10 kills. Grimm and Kitana Tuufuli both had 13 kills. Calissa Allison led all players with 19 kills and Vanessa Eregie had 10 kills.
UPCOMING COWGIRL MATCHES
Oct. 24 at Houston Christian* (11 a.m.)
Oct. 29 Southeastern* (6 p.m.)
Oct. 31 LSU New Orleans* (10 a.m.)
Nov. 5 at Stephen F. Austin* (6 p.m.)
Nov. 7 at Lamar* (11 a.m.)
Nov. 12 Nicholls* (6 p.m.)
Nov. 14 at Nicholls* (1 p.m.)
*- Southland Conference Match
