By: Robbie Kleinmuntz, Volleyball SID
Box Score
LAKE CHARLES – Stacey DiFrancesco posted her 16th double-double of the season, but the Northwestern State volleyball team was knocked off by McNeese State on Saturday in Memorial Gym – 25-17, 25-23, 23-25 and 25-23.
After starting slow, NSU (8-19, 4-10) came alive to overcome a third set deficit, but just couldn't pull out a tight fourth set in an attempt to complete a big comeback against McNeese (10-18, 5-9).
DiFrancesco registered 18 kills (.234), including nine in the third set, and 13 digs to get her 11th double-double in the last 12 matches. She also recorded five blocks and assists, both career-highs.
Emily Sweet scored her sixth double-double of the season with 45 assists and 10 digs. She also snuck in five kills on just seven attacks.
Vanessa Coleman turned in her fifth double-digit performance of the season with 10 kills, and blocked a career-high eight attacks.
Kelly Jimenez finished with 13 kills and eight digs, while Mackenzie Neely smashed seven kills and a pair of blocks. The Lady Demons out-blocked the Cowgirls, 12-7.
For McNeese, Nicole Bowden made the biggest impact on the match with 21 kills (.444) and six blocks. Becky Bekelja tallied a double-double with 53 assists and 11 digs, and Katie Kennedy dug up 25.
The Lady Demons started ahead 10-8 in the first set after a couple blocks by Coleman, but the Cowgirls went on an 8-2 run to leap ahead, 16-12. McNeese State never lifted its foot off the pedal after this, and took the set 25-17.
At 10-10 second set, the Lady Demons reeled off three in a row after some strong attacks from Jimenez to go up 13-10. Though, the Cowgirls came back to tie it, 15-15, and took the lead 19-17 forcing a NSU timeout.
Still down 22-17, the Lady Demons showed life after an ace by Nicole Hajka helped cut the deficit to 22-20. Then, after a DiFrancesco kill, the Cowgirl lead was just 24-23, but McNeese was able to finish on an attack on the next point to win the set, 25-23.
NSU started on top, 7-5, in the third after a kill by DiFrancesco, but the Cowgirls took the next four to go ahead 9-7. Still trailing 15-11, Jimenez sparked a 6-0 run take the lead, 17-15, after a couple kills with DiFrancesco serving. McNeese State responded, taking the next two to tie it (17-17) and then grabbed the lead at 21-20.
NSU stayed tough to tie it at 23-23. DiFrancesco then had a huge solo block to earn set point on Sweet's serve, and then The Woodlands native finished it, 25-23.
DiFrancesco had nine monster kills to propel the Lady Demons in the third and hit at a killer .400 mark.
NSU started down 13-10 in the fourth, and McNeese stayed solid to keep its lead at 18-15. The Lady Demons then punched back, taking three straight after a Hajka ace to break even at 18-18. The teams then went point-for-point, with NSU calling timeout down 23-22. After a block by McNeese, the Lady Demons used another timeout down 24-22, but the Cowgirls were able to end it, 25-23.
NSU still has hope to make the Southland Conference tournament, but it would have to win its last two, have Texas A&M-Corpus Christi lose its final three, and have McNeese State lose at least once.
The Lady Demons will finish the regular season at home, hosting Southeastern Louisiana on Thursday at 7 and Nicholls State on Saturday at 2.
