NACOGDOCHES, Texas— McNeese volleyball pushed Stephen F. Austin to its limits Thursday night but came up short in a 3-2 (25-15, 15-25, 25-17, 27-29, 15-12) Southland Conference loss to fall to 10-14, overall and 6-7 in the SLC. The Ladyjacks improved to 17-9 overall and 11-2 in the SLC.
SFA took a 2-1 lead with a 25-17 third set win but McNeese evened the match at two sets apiece by winning the fourth set 29-27 to send the match to a deciding fifth set.
The fifth set went back and forth and consisted of seven ties with the last tie being at 11 apiece.
With the score tied at 11, SFA scored two straight points off a Cowgirl attacking error and a SFA ace for a 13-11 lead. A kill by
Gabbie Maldonado brought the Cowgirls back to within one point (13-12) but Avery Koosen's kill gave SFA a 14-12 lead and Aniston Collins' service ace ended the match.
Maldonado led all players with a career high 23 kills.
Kayla Wilson was the only other Cowgirls to record double figure kills, ending the match with 11 kills.
Sophia Tocmo led all players with 30 digs, her fourth match recording at least 30 digs this season.
Megan Grose recorded her sixth double double of the season. Grose dished out 27 assists and picked up a career high 19 digs.
Corynne Hausler ended the match with 21 assists.
Gaby Santiago and
Carli Banks also ended the match with double figure digs. Santiago ended with 15 and Banks with 14.
SFA had four players record double figure kills with Molly Cravens leading the Ladyjacks with 19 kills. Izzy Orton lead all players with 29 assists, Camby Saul ended the match with 22 digs to lead SFA and Kyanna Creecy led all players with seven blocks.
McNeese will travel to Lamar on Saturday, Nov. 7 for an 11 a.m. match that will stream on ESPN+
