Cowgirl volleyball courts disappointing weekend

Cowgirl volleyball courts disappointing weekend

 Carly DeMarque

Contributing Writer

It was a disappointing weekend for the Cowgirls after travelling to Tulsa, Oklahoma. The team dropped two matches in straight sets at the Golden Hurricane Classic.

The McNeese volleyball team lost to former Southland Conference member Oral Roberts [25-22, 25-21, 25-22] in their first match at the Classic. 

The Cowgirls led Oral Roberts statistically in every category but struggled on offense and on serving after entering the weekend leading the nation in service aces. They ended the match with a dismal .148 hitting percentage after committing 24 hitting errors and 11 service errors.

Senior Rachel Cagnina carried the Cowgirls with 12 kills and sophomore Chrysta Stuart added another 10 kills for the team. Junior Kimberlyn Patterson picked up 14 digs and junior Kelly Graham handed out 29 assists.

The team ended the Golden Hurricane Classic 0-2 after dropping their final match of the weekend to Tulsa [28-18, 25-13, 26-24].

The Cowgirls picked up their blocking from the previous match and out blocked Tulsa. Cagnina and junior Amber Fryer both picked up four blocks apiece.

Junior Malina Sanchez, Fryer and Graham all led McNeese with six kills each while Patterson picked up 18 digs for the Cowgirls.

After a mediocre weekend in Oklahoma the teams record drops to 9-5.

Coach Ashleigh Fitzgerald is working to find a way for the team to improve and turn around from the upsetting weekend.

“To have a good start in conference play we need to do a better job of balancing staying aggressive while making the other team earn more of their point,” said Fitzgerald.

The team has a chance to bounce back with a busy week, first travelling to Jackson, Mississippi, on Sept. 30. Later in the week they have a pair of home games against Lamar on Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. then Oct. 4 at 2 p.m.

Editor’s note: Carly DeMarque is a member of the McNeese State University volleyball team.