COMMERCE – The McNeese Cowgirls took the Southland Conference opening win over the Texas A&M University-Commerce volleyball team in straight sets on Thursday night in the Field House via set scores of 25-19, 25-17, 25-22.
 
The Lions fall to 4-8 overall and 0-1 in conference play, while McNeese is 2-9 overall and 1-0 in conference play. Both teams played each other in the conference opener for the second straight season and met in the SLC Tournament quarterfinals last season.
 
McNeese jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the first set, but the Lions went on a 3-0 run to pull to 9-8 and took a 13-12 lead on a 4-0 run. McNeese won eight of the next 10 and closed out the set, 25-18.
 
The Cowgirls led 9-2 to start the second set and did not trail in the set. McNeese hit .371 in the set, taking it 25-17. McNeese had the edge in the third set, leading 14-8, but the Lions pulled to 18-17. A&M-Commerce came within one point three times, but could not tie the set, and McNeese won the third set, 25-22.
 
Deja Benjamin (Pearland – Shadows Creek) posted nine kills and three blocks, while Kitana Tuufuli (St. Hedwig – Steele) had eight kills and eight digs. Breann Connally (Coolidge – Groesbeck) had 16 assists, while Peyton Plant (Littleton, Colo.) added 10.
 
Peyton Roper (Converse – Judson) had two blocks, while Jade Smith (Houston – Mayde Creek) had eight digs as well. For the Cowgirls, Carissa Chainey had 15 kills and Megan Grose had 37 assists.


POST MATCH INTERVIEW
 
UP NEXT
The Lions take part in the UTA Invitational this weekend, playing North Texas at 2:30 p.m. on Friday and UT Arlington on Saturday at 6 p.m. Both matches take place at the Arlington ISD Athletics Center.