HUNTSVILLE, Tex.--  McNeese State's volleyball team gave Sam Houston State, the West Division leader all they could handle here Saturday as the Cowgirls played their second five set match in a row after defeating Lamar on Friday.  Today's outcome had the Cowgirls on the losing end but it should have been a Cowgirl victory.  McNeese had several chances to win the match in four sets but couldn't put it away, sending the match to a fifth and deciding set. 

     McNeese took the early lead in the match with a 25-20 first set win.  Sam Houston State came back to win the next two sets 26-24, 25-18 to go into intermission with a 2-1 lead.  The Cowgirls won the fourth set 27-25 to send the match into a deciding fifth set.  The Cowgirls dropped the set 15-10 and the match to fall to 16-7 overall and 4-5 in conference play.

     Priscilla Massengale led the Cowgirls in kills for the second straight night with a team high 19.  Massengale also recorded 20 digs for her second straight double-double.  Chanel Tyler added 13 kills and 16 digs.  Freshman libero Whitney Ellisor ended the match with a career high 38 digs and Sarah Cartie led the Cowgirls with 48 assists.  Middle blocker Nicole Bowden led all players with a career high 12 blocks.  Bowden was credited with 11 block assist and one block solol.

     "We played a great defensive game against a very good team and just came up a little short. Offensively, we were a little flat, but Sam is a great defensive team. We blocked extremely well and had two opportunities to win it in four, but came up just short. I am proud of the way we battled in back to back really tough matches. We will bounce back and be ready for Texas state and UTA next weekend," said head coach Dale Starr.