LAKE CHARLES, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University volleyball team's winning streak was snapped in a five-set loss to McNeese, 15-25, 25-19, 25-22, 15-25, 18-16, at Townsley Law Arena Thursday.
Despite its best efforts, SLU (12-12, 9-2 SLC) was unable to finish off the comeback in the final moments of the fifth set against McNeese (8-13, 5-6 SLC). After the Lions won the opening set, the Cowgirls won the next two frames to put the visitors behind. Southeastern won the fourth set to force a tiebreaker, but could not keep its winning streak alive, despite earning match point.
Kyra McKelvey matched her season-high of 23 kills in the loss, hitting for .341 in Lake Charles.
Abigail Bailey kept her double-digit kills streak going for the third straight game, posting a dozen kills through five sets.
Melina Gonzalez neared double figures in kills, getting nine to finish third on SLU. Richardson recorded her 11
th double-double of the season with a match-leading 45 assists and team-leading 13 digs.
Including Richardson, four Lions ended the match with digs in double figures. Gonzalez (13), McKelvey (12), and
Lindsey Wickersham (12) each tallied at least a dozen digs.
Keira Beverly's four blocks were both a season-high and a team-leading mark.
Gracie Brown and Bailey totaled three blocks apiece. Brown, Wickersham, and Richardson each had a pair of aces.
Three Cowgirls tied for the team-best mark of 14 kills. Gabbie Maldonado, Kayla Wilson, and Ava Henry all ended the match with 14 kills. Corynne Hausler (26) and Megan Grose (21) split duties at setter, with both tallying at least 20 assists. Southland Conference digs-per-set leader Sophia Tocmo led the match with 18 digs. Gaby Santiago (12) and Carlie Banks (11) also collected digs in double figures. McNeese was active at the net defensively, totaling 11 blocks as a team. Harmony Soles and Maldonado completed the match with seven blocks and six blocks, respectively.
SLU claimed the lead in the first set, gaining a two-point advantage early, 13-10. McKelvey posted four straight kills to help the Lions score five straight, 18-10. Southeastern took the set from there, winning by double digits, 25-15.
After the Lions scored the first point of set two, the Cowgirls set the tone in the second and third sets, never allowing SLU to gain a lead. With the home team ahead, two sets to one, the Lions bounced back in the fourth set. SLU led by one, 11-10, then proceeded to extend its lead to six with a 7-1 run, 18-11. Southeastern took the set from there, forcing a crucial tiebreaking final set.
After a 6-6 tie, the Cowgirls strung together a four-point lead to keep the Lions at bay. McNeese notched match point, 14-11, but three straight points by SLU tied the match at 14-all. McKelvey and Brown found the floor to force two match points, 15-14 and 16-15, but McNeese scored three straight to overcome SLU's best efforts to complete the comeback, 18-16.
Next up, Southeastern will head to Stopher Gymnasium in Thibodaux, La., to take on Nicholls (9-15, 2-9 SLC) on Saturday at 1 p.m. The match will be televised on ESPN+.
DIGGIN' IT CLUB / S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the Southeastern volleyball program are encouraged to join the Diggin' It Club. Lion volleyball alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners.
All membership fees and donations to both the Diggin' It Club and S Club (volleyball) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern volleyball program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at
laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting
www.LionUp.com.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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