NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Northwestern State volleyball team will hit the road for a pair of conference road matches this weekend, taking on Stephen F. Austin on Thursday at 6:30 and Sam Houston State on Saturday at 2.

 

The weekend marks the start of a five match conference road trip for NSU (3-10, 0-1).

 

The Lady Demons are coming off a 1-2 weekend at the Holiday Inn Express Classic. They defeated Alcorn State in straight sets and took defending Southland Conference champions, Central Arkansas, to five sets in Prather Coliseum.

 

Stacey DiFrancesco and Emily Sweet were named to the all-tournament team after posting big numbers for NSU. DiFrancesco is currently first on the team with 147 kills and ranks fourth in the Southland Conference in that category, while Sweet leads the way with 379 assists and is ninth in the SLC.

 

Defensively for NSU, Keelie Arneson has the most digs for NSU with 236 on the season and ranks fifth in the SLC, and Mackenzie Neely is the team's top blocker with 34 on the year and also places seventh in the conference in service aces (18). Furthermore, Neely's six aces against UCA is the best five-set serving performance in the SLC to date.

 

Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston State are both coming off a weekend at the Chilly Filmore's SFA Invitational, where the Ladyjack's went 0-3 and the Bearkats finished 1-2 in Nacogdoches. When the two teams played each other, Sam Houston State came out on top in a close 3-2 battle.

 

Stephen F. Austin (6-8, 0-1) enters the match on a six-game skid. It is led by senior middle blocker MC Bottles who ranks first on the team in kills (156) and second in blocks (41). Freshman setter Paige Holland is another Ladyjack to watch for, as she ranks second in the SLC in assists (9.86 a/s).

 

SFA's best result this season was a 3-2 victory over Alabama-Birmingham on Sep. 3.

 

Sam Houston State (7-7, 1-0) is led by senior outside hitter Karli Colbe who ranks first in the conference in kills (3.68 k/s). The Bearkats also have an outstanding setter, senior Kym Loving, who is third in the SLC in assists (9.33 a/s).

 

SHSU started the season 5-0 and recorded a notable win over Rutgers from the Big East, but tough scheduling against Cincinnati, Oklahoma, Washington State and Rice has resulted in a 2-7 stretch since then.

 

Looking ahead, the Lady Demons will continue their road trip the following weekend as they travel to Southeastern Louisiana on Sep. 29 and Nicholls on Oct. 1. They will then play Central Arkansas in Conway, Ark. on Oct. 5 before finally returning home on Oct. 8 to host Texas State at Prather Coliseum.