NATCHITOCHES--  McNeese State's volleyball team dropped a five set match (25-17, 25-23, 21-25, 21-25, 13-15) Southland Conference match to Northwestern State here Saturday evening, dropping the Cowgirls to 17-10 overall and 5-8 in conference play.  Northwestern State improved to 3-19 overall and 2-12 in league play.

McNeese took a 2-0 overall lead by winning the first set 25-17 and the second set 25-23.  The Cowgirls couldn't put the Demons away in straight sets with a third set 21-25 loss. 

After the break, Northwestern State continued to hold the momentum and avoided the loss with a 25-21 fourth set victory to send the match into a fifth set.  The Demons played almost error free in the fifth set by collecting eight kills on 17 attempts with only one error for a .412 hitting percent.  On the other hand the Cowgirls had  six kills, five errors on 17 attempts with a .059 hitting percent which was the deciding factor in the Demons' fifth set 15-13 win over the Cowgirls.

Erin Huckabay led the Cowgirls with 15 kills, eight blocks and a .591 hitting percent.  Also recording double figure kills was Priscilla Massengale with 13 kills.  Whitney Ellisor led the Cowgirls with 18 digs and Sarah Cartie led with 35 assists and had 14 digs.

McNeese will travel to Stephen F. Austin Tuesday, Nov. 10 for a 7 p.m. Southland Conference match.