Box Score

NATCHITOCHES – Stacey DiFrancesco recorded her seventh consecutive double-double and Nicole Hajka turned in a career-performance as Northwestern State defeated McNeese State on Saturday in Prather Coliseum - 25-17, 26-24, 23-25 and 25-20.

 

DiFrancesco tallied a match-high 16 kills for NSU (7-14, 4-5) and also dug up 10 attacks to lift the Lady Demons over McNeese State (6-16, 1-7).

 

“Stacey is a talented player who is very driven and wants to continue improving,” said co-head coach Hugh Hernesman. “She has maintained a level of consistency simply because she wants to do whatever it takes to be good.”

 

Hajka slammed a career-best 15 kills and hit at an impressive .407 mark. Kelly Jimenez turned in her eighth double-double of the season with 13 kills and 10 digs.

 

“Nicole played with a lot of confidence today,” Hernesman said. “It started on Thursday when she had a really good match against Lamar, and our setter is getting her in situations that get her a lot of good looks.”

 

Emily Sweet guided much of the Lady Demon attack by dishing out a career-high 52 assists. She also tallied seven digs, two kills and an ace in the match.

 

“Sweet has been putting the ball in perfect spots for me - right where I've needed it every time,” DiFrancesco said.

 

In the middle, Mackenzie Neely pounded nine kills (.438) and had a pair of digs and assists. Vanessa Coleman registered five kills and three blocks.

 

For the Cowgirls, Nicole Bowden finished on a team-high nine attacks, and Katie Kennedy led the team with 15 digs.

 

With the score tied 5-5 in the first set, NSU reeled off six in a row to go up 11-5 on Sweet's serve after a couple of kills by Neely. The Lady Demons then found Hajka's hot hand which further extended the lead to 20-13 after three kills. NSU then finished a dominant first set, 25-17, after a kill by Jimenez.

 

Hajka led the way for NSU in the first with four kills (.571). Neely recorded three kills, two digs, a block and an assist in the frame. The Lady Demons did not commit a service error in the set, and had just four attack errors.

 

In a closely contested second set, NSU found itself down 12-7 after some big attacks from McNeese. The Lady Demons slowly cut down the lead, and eventually tied it 23-23 after kills by Coleman and Jimenez. The Cowgirls then had a set point at 24-23, but DiFrancesco was there to finish a point and keep NSU alive, 24-24. McNeese then missed on a couple attacks, and the Lady Demons took the set, 26-24.

 

Hajka again propelled the offense in the second with a match-high five kills. Jimenez and DiFrancesco were also big contributors as they tallied four kills each. Jessica Guttierrez, Sweet and Jimenez each had three digs defensively, and the NSU still had not committed a service error in the match.

 

“Our service game was really strong today, especially early, and that allowed us to put McNeese in a lot of tough situations,” Hernesman said. “We always serve hard, and if we can do it without making any service errors then that's going to put a lot of stress on our opponents.”

 

The Lady Demons started strong in the third set, racing out to an 11-4 lead after five different NSU players recorded a kill. The Lady Demons were still in control, 18-13, after an ace by Jimenez, but the Cowgirls took the next six points to go up 19-17. NSU responded by going on a 5-1 run to go up 22-20, but McNeese reeled off five of the next six to take the set, 25-23.

 

“McNeese has teams that play hard for every point,” Hernesman said. “Coach Gamble always has them playing with a lot of effort and they got us there in the third set.”

 

The teams started even in the fourth, with tied scores of 6-6 and 10-10. NSU then went on a five-point spurt to grab the lead, 18-13, after a couple more kills by Hajka with DiFrancesco serving. The Cowgirls tried to claw back in it at 21-18, but kills by Sweet, Coleman and DiFrancesco finished the job, 25-20.

 

“McNeese is a great team and has been our biggest rivals since we've been here, but today we just came out fired up and ready to play with everything we've got,” said Hajka. “I think we will definitely continue to carry-on in a positive direction after this.”

Up next, the Lady Demons will drive to Ruston, La. to play Louisiana Tech in a non-conference affair at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. They will then return to conference play the following Saturday when they travel to Arlington, Texas to square off against Texas-Arlington.