Jordyn Vaughn, Shelby Genung and Brooke White each contributed nine kills as Sam Houston defeated Northwestern State 25-21 25-13 25-23 in a Southland Conference volleyball match Saturday afternoon at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum.

The victory ended a four-match losing streak for the Bearkats who now stand 11-13 for the year and 5-5 in Southland Conference play. Northwestern State drops to 6-19 for the year and 4-8 in the league.

Madison Wallace added six kills and Taylor Cunningham was credited with four. The Bearkats limited their errors, committing only 10 in 64 attempts in the first sets.

“This was a big win for the team,” head coach Brenda Gray said. “Thursday night's loss to Stephen F. Austin in three was a tough one. Yesterday in practice we just talked about everybody doing their job and taking advantage of opportunities. And that's what we did today.”

Sam Houston never trailed in the first set and roared out to a 16-10 lead in the second. The Kats appeared to be on the way to a quick third set win, going up 16-10. But the Demons roared back to tie the set at 22 and 23. An Northwestern State error and a kill by Cunningham on match point earned the win for the SHSU women.

“We didn't take advantage our middle attack against SFA Thursday and we talked about that in practice,” Gray said. “We got back to some of the things that have been working for us today and got a big win.”

A key for the Kats was limiting errors. Northwestern State committed 24 while Sam Houston had only 18.

Michelle Griffith assisted on 34 of Sam Houston's 37 kills. Five Bearkats produced double figure digs with Griffth, Claire Kilpatrick and Breanna Homer totaling 11 each while Vaughn and White had 10 apiece.