NACOGDOCHES, Tex. – Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week Keelie Arneson and the Northwestern State volleyball team travel to Stephen F. Austin on Friday for their first conference match of the season.
 
The Lady Demons (6-4) will also compete in SFA's Ladyjack Invitational on Saturday against Southern Mississippi and Robert Morris.
 
NSU is currently on a four-match win streak after defeating Louisiana Tech 3-0 on Tuesday night.
 
Stacey DiFrancesco leads the Lady Demons with 94 kills (3.13 per set), 78 digs (2.60/set) and 11 service aces.
 
Outside hitter Mackenzie Neely has been very consistent for NSU as well, hammering down 92 kills (2.88/set), blocking 18 balls and recording 11 aces.
 
Arneson leads Northwestern State on the defensive end, digging up 168 balls (4.67/set) this season.
 
Stephen F. Austin (7-3) goes into the weekend after a 2-1 performance in the Butler Tournament last weekend. The Ladyjacks stunned the Hoosiers of Indiana when they defeated them 3-2, recording their first win over a Big 10 team in program history. SFA then went on to sweep Butler before falling to Western Illinois the following day.
 
 Jill Ivy leads the Ladyjacks offense with 111 kills (2.92/set) while senior Madison Hanlan controls the defensive effort for SFA with 194 digs (4.85/set).
 
Southern Mississippi (3-6) is coming off a 2-1 performance at last weekend's UTA Hilton Invitational. The Lady Demons gave the Golden Eagles their only loss of the weekend, sweeping them 3-0.
 
Freshman Lydia Bonner leads USM with 103 kills (3.81/set).
 
On the defensive end, Elizabeth Rinuado has recorded 100 digs (.960/set), followed closely by Halie Ecker who has 97 digs (.928/set).
 
Robert Morris enters the weekend with a 4-8 record after going 1-3 last weekend at the Maddle Bingaman Tournament. The Colonials fell to Maryland Baltimore County, Colorado and James Madison and defeated Howard.
 
Senior Lindsey Monger has been a standout on both offense and defense for Robert Morris, recording 147 kills (3.67/set), 16 aces and 150 digs (3.75).
 
The Lady Demons return home on Tuesday for a conference match against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.