Box Score

NATCHITOCHES – After an explosive first set, Northwestern State would eventually see its three-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday after falling to Texas State in Prather Coliseum – 19-25, 25-16, 25-15 and 25-18.

 

Kelly Jimenez led the way for NSU (6-13, 3-4) by pounding a career-high 16 kills and also dug up five.

 

“Kelly is playing with a lot of confidence right now and looked great today,” said co-head coach Hugh Hernesman. “She built off a great performance on Wednesday and this is the player we knew we were going to get when we recruited her.”

 

For the fifth straight game, Stacey DiFrancesco recorded a double-double with 11 kills and 10 digs. Emily Sweet posted her fourth double-double of the season with 31 assists and 11 digs. She also put away a career-best four attacks on just five attempts (.800).

 

“Sweet was putting our hitters in rhythm and on the right matchups,” Hernesman said. “She did a really good job today, especially when our passing was strong in the first set.”

 

Texas State (14-6, 5-1) extended its winning streak to five matches and has now won 15 of its last 18 sets.

 

“Texas State runs a fast offense and has a lot of big, physical hitters,” Hernesman said. “They have a great coaching staff and are an established program that has been doing this for a long time.”

 

Defensively, Keelie Arneson recorded a team-high 15 digs, while Jessica Guttierrez scooped up seven. Mackenzie Neely put up five kills and three blocks, and Vanessa Coleman had six and two.

 

The Lady Demons came out on fire and took the first set 25-19. Jimenez and DiFrancesco each registered four kills in the set; NSU did not commit an error in the frame. The Lady Demons hit at a .441 in the first.

 

In the set, the teams were at a 16-16 stalemate when the Lady Demons rattled off the next six points to go up 22-16. Nicole Hajka and Coleman each had a kill to spark the run, while Neely contributed with a bullet ace. NSU then finished it off, 25-19, after a slam by Jimenez.

 

After the Bobcats took the next two sets 25-16 and 25-15, they then jumped out to an 18-10 lead in the fourth. NSU would respond by taking the next four points to cut the deficit to 18-14 after a couple spikes by Neely. Though it wasn't enough, and Texas State would be able to close out the set 25-18 and the match after kills by its outside hitters.

 

“At times we looked really good against a very talented team, but we know we still have a long way to go in order to get to the level we want to be at,” Hernesman said.

 

The Lady Demons will be back in action on Thursday night when they host Lamar at Prather Coliseum at 7.