McNeese Volleyball Falls To SFA In Five Sets

From Staff Reports

The Contraband

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — McNeese volleyball nearly pulled off an upset Saturday over preseason favorite Stephen F. Austin (9-8, 2-0 SLC), dropping a 3-2 (20-25, 25-20, 26-24, 21-25, 12-15) Southland Conference match to the Ladyjacks on the road.

“We really played our hearts out and we take a lot of pride in the fact that SFA really had to play at a high level to beat us,” said head coach Ashleigh Fitzgerald.

Several McNeese players produced season and career highs with the Cowgirls ending the match with four players recording double figure kills.

For the second straight match, it was seniors Malina Sanchez, Kelly Graham and Amber Fryer who led the Cowgirls. Sanchez led the Cowgirls with 16 kills along with 11 digs. Graham recorded her sixth double-double of the season including a career-high 56 assists. Fryer had her best match of the season with 15 kills. Fryer ended the match with a .379 attack percent and Hailee Showers ended the match with a .310 hitting percent. Rebecca Korenek and Showers also collected double figure kills with 13 and 12, respectively.

Libero Bridget Justis also recorded a season high with 27 digs, and was one of four Cowgirls to record 10 or more digs. Graham Adison Giambrone was credited with a season high 12 digs and Graham capped off her double-double with 11 digs.

McNeese (4-11, 1-1 SLC) will be on the road again next weekend at Lamar on Thursday and Sam Houston State on Saturday.