NATCHITOCHES – The Northwestern State volleyball team fell to Holiday Inn Express Classic champion Arkansas State on Saturday in straight sets – 25-16, 25-19 and 25-12.

 

Vanessa Coleman and Stacey DiFrancesco posted a team-high six kills apiece to lead the NSU (3-10) offense. Kelly Jimenez also finished off five attacks, while Mackenzie Neely killed four and blocked two.

 

Defensively, Keelie Arneson paved the way with a game-high 14 digs and also recorded an assist. Emily Sweet registered a game-high 20 assists and tallied two kills, two digs and an ace.

 

Arkansas State (9-5) is on a five game winning streak, including a straight set win over defending Southland Conference champion Central Arkansas. The Red Wolves did not drop a set in the tournament.

 

In the first set, NSU got behind early when the Red Wolves took five in a row to go up 11-5. Though, the Lady Demons would go on a 7-3 run to come back, capped by a kill by Coleman to cut the deficit down to 14-12. However, ASU would go on a 7-2 run to go up 21-14 to take control. and later finish it 25-16.

 

Coleman led the way in the first, with three kills and a block. Arneson recorded four digs defensively, while Jimenez dug up three.

 

The teams went point-for-point for most of the second set, and the score was tied 16-16 after an ace by Sweet. Though, ASU reeled of eight of the next nine points to go ahead 24-17 and eventually take the set, 25-19.

 

Sweet dished out 10 assists in the second, four to DiFrancesco and three to Neely.

 

ASU was in control the entire third set, breaking out to leads of 8-3, 11-5 and 16-8. The Lady Demons just could not get the momentum going and would fall in the third, 25-12.

 

The Lady Demons will be back in action on Thursday when they travel to Nacogdoches, Texas to take on Stephen F. Austin at 6:30. They will then play Sam Houston State in Huntsville, Texas on Saturday at 2.