Box Score

RUSTON – Stacey DiFrancesco posted her eighth consecutive double-double to lead the Northwestern State volleyball team to a 3-0 sweep over Louisiana Tech in a non-conference affair on Wednesday night in the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court – 25-23, 25-21 and 25-16.

“The competitive nature of our team is really starting to emerge,” said co-head coach Hugh Hernesman. “We're starting to really step-up in some of the big moments in matches, which wasn't happening as much earlier in the season. It's amazing how much we've improved from just a month and a half ago.”

DiFrancesco finished with a match-high 11 kills and 15 digs for NSU (8-14, 4-5 SLC) to give it the straight-set victory over La. Tech (9-15, 0-7 WAC).

“Stacey was steady for us again tonight, as she has been throughout the whole season,” Hernesman said.

Keelie Arneson stood out defensively, digging up a match-high 24 attacks and dished out five assists. The Lady Demons also out-blocked the Lady Techsters, 10-6, with six of those coming from Mackenzie Neely.

“Keelie was fun to watch tonight,” Hernesman said. “Her speed and the way she covered the court was impressive, and she really played a great match.”

Emily Sweet played a key role in the win as she not only set up the Lady Demons with 30 assists, but also finished with a career-high five kills. Kelly Jimenez was second on the team in kills with seven, and also registered three digs and a pair of blocks.

“We've been working on getting Sweet to be a little more offensive, and tonight she knew when to attack in the right situations,” Hernesman said.

NSU fought hard to earn a 2-0 set lead in the match, and then breezed through the third to win its second straight match.

“It just took a little bit for us to get into our usual rhythm and La. Tech played really well early on,” Hernesman said.

In the first set, La. Tech jumped out to an early 7-4 lead, but the Lady Demons would quickly tie it, 9-9, after an ace by Neely. Later trailing 19-15, NSU would take three straight after an ace by DiFrancesco to make it 19-18, but were yet to put a streak together to tie it.

Then, after trailing most of the set, the Lady Demons would finally break even again at 23-23 after a kill by DiFrancesco. With Arneson serving, NSU would rally to take its first lead of the set at 24-23, and then won it on a La. Tech miscue, 25-23.

DiFrancesco and Jimenez each had four kills to spark the Lady Demons, and Arneson dug up eight attacks to keep them in it. Sweet aided the attack with 14 assists and also recorded three digs.

In another closely contested set, the Lady Demons were ahead early in the second, 10-4, after a DiFrancesco kill and three NSU block assists highlighted a 5-0 run. The Lady Techsters slowly crept back in it, down 15-14, and would go on to tie it, 16-16.

The Lady Techsters then took the lead, 19-17, but it was short-lived as NSU tied it, 20-20, after a block by Neely. The Lady Demons then took total control - grabbing a 23-20 lead after an ace by DiFrancesco, and won the set, 25-21, after kills by Nicole Hajka and Vanessa Coleman.

DiFrancesco pounded four more kills to lead the way for NSU, and Arneson tallied 16 digs through two sets. Emily Sweet played a critical part for the Lady Demons, as she had 22 assists, six digs and three kills (.333) at the break.

NSU came out of the break on fire and led 7-0 in the third after a kill and block by Coleman, and an ace by Hajka. Still leading 10-5, the Lady Demons reeled off six in a row after two blocks and a kill by Neely to extend the lead to 16-5. NSU's lead was never in jeopardy, and it went on to cruise to a 25-16 victory.

“This team is a confident bunch,” Hernesman said. “When we're playing good volleyball, we feel we can be competitive with a lot of teams out there.”

NSU improved to 2-0 against La. Tech under co-head coaches Hugh and Stephanie Hernesman.

The Lady Demons will return to conference play on Saturday when they travel to Arlington, Texas to take on Texas-Arlington at 1.