Sam Houston State volleyball finished with two straight Southland Conference victories in Louisiana this weekend.
On Saturday, the Bearkats defeated McNeese State in Lake Charles, La. The rapid three setter (25-21, 25-20, 25-23) lasted just a little over an hour long. The Bearkats’ win comes after a win over Nicholls State in four sets 23-25, 25-22, 25-16 and 25-18 in Thibodaux, La. on Thursday.
Senior outside hitter Deveney Wells-Gibson led the offense with 22 kills and led the defense with 25 digs over the Colonels.
Nicholls State drops down to 1-2 in SLC play.
In the showing against McNeese, Wells-Gibson led the Bearkats with 18 kills, but it was freshman outside hitter Jordyn Vaughn who stole the show. Vaughn won the game after a hard-hitting kill in the third set at match point 24-23. She was the second leading scorer for the Bearkats and totaled nine kills. Every point the Bearkats received, Vaughn was right in the midst celebrating with her team.
“I contribute a lot of energy to my team,” Vaughn said. “I try to get a spark going in them.”
The Huntsville native is working her way to becoming SLC Freshman of the Year, which is one of her main goals this season next to bringing home a championship title, she said.
Sophomore setter, Michelle Griffith commends her teammate for a job well done this weekend, she said.
“Jordyn really stepped up a lot as our L2,” she said.
Griffith finished the match with 34 assists and 10 digs. Junior middle blocker Carling Urben totaled eight kills. Sophomore outside hitter and defensive specialist Breanna Homer added 10 digs for the Bearkats. The Cowgirls struggled offensively at the net and behind the serving line. McNeese had 14 service errors the entire match but still continues to lead the SLC in serving.
The Cowgirls played without their team captain, Rachel Cagnina, but junior outside hitters Malina Sanchez and Amber Fryer stepped up and led the team with eight kills.
Vaughn admitted that McNeese is not one of their “strong competitors,” but she is proud of her team for finishing in the third game.
“McNeese could have come back, because they did have a lot of fight in them,” she said.
The Bearkats move to 2-1 in SLC play and 9-7 overall.
SHSU returns home to the Johnson Coliseum this Thursday for the first time since its home tournament at the end of August.
The Bearkats take on Incarnate Word. The referee will beckon for the first serve at 6:30 p.m.