HUNTSVILLE ? Brittanie Wallace totaled 21 kills and Cynthia Yarotsky added 12 as Sam Houston State took McNeese State to five games before falling Saturday in a Southland Conference volleyball match 30-26 30-22 24-30 27-30 15-10.

The Cowgirls were led by Alyson Jones with 21 kills and Chanel Tyler with 17.

After trailing by as many as four points in the first game, Sam Houston State battled back to take a 16-15 lead. Amanda Allen put McNeese back in charge, winning six straight points on her serve to put the Cowgirls up 21-16. Sam Houston battled back to cut the margin to one, 24-23, but McNeese won six of the next nine points to close out the game.

McNeese jumped out to a 14-9 lead in the second game but Sam Houston could get no closer than three points the rest of the way as the Cowgirls took the second game.

The Bearkats came back after the break to jump out to take control in the third game, going up 18-17 and never losing the lead again on the way a 30-24 game victory. The third game was tied nine times with five lead changes.

The fourth game was just as close with four ties, but Sam Houston finally took control with the score tied 25-2, winning five of the next seven points.

With the fifth game tied 4-4, McNeese won three consecutive points on Lindsay Brooks serve to take a 7-4 lead. Sam Houston cut the lead to 8-7 but the Cowgirls won seven of the next 11 points for the victory.

McNeese State upped their season mark to 14-12 and stand 8-4 in Southland action. Sam Houston State dropped to 11-14 for the year and 5-7 in league games.