LAKE CHARLES—McNeese volleyball defeated Grambling in straight sets (25-19, 25-22, 25-20) Thursday night in its home opener and the first match of the Cowgirl Classic to improve to 3-7 on the year. The loss dropped Grambling to 3-7 on the season as well.
"
Gabbie Maldonado took over the first set," said head coach
Tayler Gray. "Everything she touched turned into points. Kayla came in and did her job and was clean.
Ava Henry did her job as well. We are going to feed those players, but their attempts will have to be earned through cleanliness and efficiency."
The tournament will continue Friday with Grambling facing Oral Roberts at 6 p.m. McNeese and Oral Roberts will play the final match of the tournament at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Gabbie Maldonado and
Ava Henry led the Cowgirls offense with 12 and 10 kills, respectively.
Sophia Tocmo led all players with 20 digs while setter
Megan Grose was credited with 13. Grose added 24 assists for her third double double of the season.
SET 1
• The set went back and forth for the first 18 points until
Harmony Jackson's kill gave McNeese a 10-9 lead and.
• Leading 19-16, the Cowgirls ended the set with a 6-3 run and won the set on a
Gaby Santiago ace.
SET 2
• Grambling jumped out to a 4-2 lead, but McNeese took the lead 5-4 on a
Carli Banks ace
• Grambling tied the set at six apiece but a kill by
Maleah Mutterback gave the Cowgirls the 7-6
• The Tigers would eventually claw their way back and tie the set at 12 apiece, the first of two more ties
• Grambling led 21-19 but a kill by Jackson and three errors by Grambling put McNeese up 23-21.
• Grambling scored one more point to pull to within one (23-22) but kills by Mutterback and Henry closed out the set for the 2-0 lead.
SET 3
• Once again, Grambling jumped out to an early lead (4-0) before the Cowgirls went on a 4-0 run to tie the set.
• The set went back and forth before
Kayla Wilson's kill gave the Cowgirls a 19-18 lead
• McNeese would outscore the Tigers 6-2 the rest of the set to clinch the match.
McNEESE NOTES
• The win is the third straight for the Cowgirls and second over Grambling this season.
• With the win, McNeese hasn't dropped a set (24-0) or a match (9-0) against Grambling since 2007
•
Gabbie Maldonado led McNeese with 12 kills
•
Ava Henry also ended the match with double figure kills (10)
•
Megan Grose recorded her third double double of the season (24 assists, 13 digs)
•
Sophia Tocmo recorded double figure digs for the ninth straight match
•
Maleah Mutterback picked up a season high four kills and three digs
•
Harmony Jackson recorded a season high five kills
UP NEXT
McNeese will remain home and will host Oral Roberts at 1 p.m. Saturday in the final match of the Cowgirl Classic
COWGIRL CLASSIC SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, SEPT. 17
6 p.m.- McNeese vs. Grambling
FRIDAY, SEPT. 18
6 p.m.- Oral Roberts vs. Grambling
SATURDAY, SEPT. 19
1 p.m.- McNeese vs. Oral Roberts
