McNeese Volleyball Falls Short In 3-1 Loss At Lamar

From Staff Reports
The Contraband

BEAUMONT, Texas—The McNeese volleyball team fell short in their comeback against a taller Lamar team Thursday night Southland Conference match. The Cowgirls fought off several match points in the third set to avoid the straight set loss before dropping the match by a 3-1 score.

Senior Malina Sanchez led all players with a match high 18 kills. Junior Rebecca Korenek chipped in with 13. Kelly Graham dished out 45 assists while Bridget Justis ended the match with 15 digs and Amber Fryer picked up five blocks. The loss drops McNeese to 4-12 on the season and 1-2 in the SLC. Lamar improves to 11-5 overall and 1-1 in the SLC.

Despite being shorter than Lamar on the front line, both teams ended the match with 17 blocks apiece. The Cowgirls were credited with 16 block assists and one solo while Lamar picked up 14 block assists and three solo. McNeese did commit 28 errors and ended the match with a .155 team hitting percent. On the other side of the net, Lamar committed 18 errors and hit .255 for the match.

McNeese got off to a slow start in the opening set and never got on track as the Cowgirls dropped the set 25-14.

The second set didn’t begin any better for the Cowgirls as they trailed 6-0 before scoring their first point on a Rae Myers kill. Lamar never let the lead slip but the Cowgirls did stave off six set points before eventually dropping the set 25-19.
With the Cowgirls needing a win to avoid the sweep, the third set was tight and consisted of 14 ties. With the match tied at 23 all, a Lamar attacking error gave McNeese a 24-23 lead and a Hailee Showers kill from Kelly Graham gave McNeese the 25-23 third set win to extend the match.

The fourth set was close at the beginning until Lamar took an 8-4 lead. The Cowgirls continued to battle and eventually tied the set at 12 apiece on a Lamar error. From this point on the teams traded points and neither team led by more than two points after Lamar held a 20-18 lead.

Once again, McNeese tied the set at 20 all following a Monica Hudgins kill and a Lamar error. Lamar retook the lead at 23-21 following a Cowgirl error and a kill by Autumn Taylor. McNeese got within one point 24-23 on a Rebecca Korenek kill but Korenek would commit a hitting error on the next play to give Lamar the fourth set victory and the match.

McNeese will continue on the road for an 11 a.m. Southland Conference match at Sam Houston State Saturday.