Oct. 23, 2009

Box Score

McNeese State erased a 7-1 fifth-set deficit with a 9-2 run to defeat Lamar 3-2 at McDonald Gym Friday night.

McNeese (16-6, 4-4 Southland) had nine service aces and hit ,265 for the match. Priscilla Massengale led MSU with 19 kills and 15 digs, while setter Sarah Cartie had 46 assists, 15 digs and eight kills.

"They outplayed us all match," Lamar head coach Justin Gibert said. "Everything we needed to do we didn't do. We knew if we got into a high-ball match we were going to lose, and we lost the serving and passing battle.

"Our inexperience in blocking showed tonight and their offense was as good as I have seen. Hats off to them. I thought they played a great match. They served nine aces and that was the difference in the match."

Lamar (11-9, 6-3) was led by Wendy Krell's career-high tying 14 kills - on 25 swings, three block assists and two aces. Kaci Brewer and Adrianne Meengs both posted double-doubles for the Lady Cardinals - Brewer with 15 kills and 14 digs, and Meengs with 10 kills and 45 assists.

"Wendy did a great job but we couldn't get her enough balls," Gibert said.

McNeese won the first set 25-18 thanks in large part to six kills from Chanel Tyler and a .333hitting clip - its highest all match.

Lamar even things up at 1-1 following its 25-22 win in the second set as Brewer and Lauren Holdorff notched five kills each. The Cowgirls led 14-9 before a 6-1 Lady Cardinal run tied it at 15-15. Neither team led by more than two points before the final margin came on a Brewer kill.

A 7-2 Cowgirl run broke a 15-15 deadlock in the third and pushed the visitors to a 25-20 win.

Lamar never trailed after a 1-0 deficit in the fourth set, leading by as many as nine points on four occasions before forcing the fifth set with a 25-18 decision. Krell powered LU to the set win with four kills and no errors.

Lamar will return to action on Saturday when it plays host to Stephen F. Austin (16-10, 5-3). First serve is set for 3 p.m.