Box Score

HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana freshman Courtney Donald recorded a career-high 13 kills, but McNeese State's Priscilla Massengale countered with a match-high 16 kills, as the Cowgirls handed the Lady Lions an 18-25, 25-12, 25-22, 25-18 defeat in Southland Conference volleyball action Thursday night in the University Center.

McNeese State (14-4, 2-2 SLC) spoiled the return home for Southeastern (6-9, 2-2 SLC), which was playing in Hammond for the first time since a Sept. 1 victory over Alcorn State.

Both teams came out hitting on all cylinders as McNeese State hit .318 in the opening set with Southeastern posting a .306 clip. Jessica Srajer, who finished with 12 kills, recorded five kills in the set as the Lady Lions pulled away from an 8-7 lead.

A kill by McNeese State's Taylor Bustamento cut the Southeastern lead to 17-14, but Chanel Tyler hit into two consecutive attack errors and the Lady Lions' Lauren Mayer recorded a kill for a 20-14 lead.

Both teams traded points in the opening portion of the second set before McNeese State broke the set open with a 7-1 run. Tyler gave the Cowgirls a 5-4 lead with a kill and Erin Huckaby added a pair of kills behind the serve of Sarah Cartie.

The Cowgirls hit a blistering .500 at the net (14-0-28) as Massengale recorded five kills in the set with Tyler and Huckaby adding four. Srajer and Donald each led Southeastern, which posted a .077 hitting percentage in the second set, with three kills with Srajer hitting .750.

The third set saw a fierce battle with 10 ties and four lead changes. Massengale led McNeese State with six kills in the frame, hitting .455 on 11 attempts while Tyler added four kills. Allison Jones paced Southeastern in the third set with four kills.

Southeastern trailed 14-13 before an attack error by Tyler started a 4-0 Lady Lion run. Two more errors on the Cowgirls gave Southeastern a 16-14 lead and Mayer responded after a McNeese State timeout with a kill for a 17-14 lead.

Massengale stopped the Southeastern run with a kill and McNeese State would snap a 19-19 tie on a kill by Huckaby and claim the third set.

The Cowgirls put the match away in the fourth set, taking the lead for good when a kill by Cartie gave McNeese State a 9-8 lead. Southeastern stayed close, getting to within 18-16 on a kill by Srajer, but Massengale responded with a kill and Nicole Bowden recorded a solo block for a 20-16 advantage.

McNeese State finished with a .254 hitting percentage and posted eight blocks. Tyler posted a double-double with 14 kills and 10 digs for the Cowgirls while Huckaby chipped in with 10 kills and four blocks.

Southeastern, which hosts Stephen F. Austin in a 2 p.m. match on Saturday, hit .098 for the match. Donald led the Lady Lions at the net with a .333 percentage while Srajer hit at a .212 clip.

McNeese State 3, Southeastern La. 1 (18-25, 25-12, 25-22, 25-18)
McNeese State (14-4, 2-2 SLC) (Kills-aces-blocks) – Massengale 16-1-2; Tyler 14-0-2; Huckabay 10-0-4; Bowden 3-0-3; Cartie 3-1-1; Bustamento 2-0-1; Vasser 1-0-1; Ellisor 0-1-0; Totals 49-3-8.0. (Assists) – Cartie 39. (Dig leaders) – Mica 12; Tyler 10; Kennedy 9; Massengale 9.

Southeastern La. (6-9, 2-2 SLC) (Kills-aces-blocks) – Donald 13-0-0; Srajer 12-2-1; Mayer 9-0-1; Braghini 6-1-3; Jones 4-0-0; Buckner 1-0-0; Cruckshank 1-0-0; Totals 46-3-3.0. (Assists) – Cruckshank 37. (Dig leaders) – Greer 20; Mayer 18; Buckner 11.