Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ARLINGTON, Tex. – Northwestern State's Stacey DiFrancesco and Emily Sweet were named to the UTA Hilton Invitational all-tournament team after recording 48 kills  and 121 assists, respectively, throughout the tournament. DiFrancesco and Sweet helped lead the Lady Demons to a tournament sweep.
 
NSU defeated host, Texas Arlington on Saturday afternoon in a five-set battle.
 
The Lady Demons (5-4) also defeated the Red Foxes of Marist 3-1 later in the day.
 
DiFrancesco and Sweet each set new career-records against UTA.
 
DiFrancesco hammered down an astonishing 25 kills and tacked on 15 digs for a double-double. She also recorded four service aces and three blocks.  Sweet managed a double-double as well, offering up 54 sets and 12 digs.
 
“Stacey and Sweet did an amazing job tonight,” said co-head coach Hugh Hernesman. “I think that because they are so used to playing with each other, Sweet was able to find Stacey in her rhythm.“
 
“I really think tonight was a great team effort,” said DiFrancesco. “The middles did very well, Mackenzie really contributed and Sweet just put the ball right where I needed it so it was definitely a team effort.”
 
Keelie Arneson also had an outstanding performance, digging up 27 balls.
 
Caiti O'Connell recorded 13 kills while Vanessa Coleman and Mackenzie Neely added nine kills each.
 
The first set started off back and forth with five lead changes and eight ties. An NSU service error at the 11-11 mark gave UTA a 12-11 lead and the Mavericks did not trail again, winning the set 25-22.
 
Northwestern State got off to a great start in the second set with a 6-0 run. The Lady Demons managed to keep their momentum throughout the set, leading by as many as nine points. They never trailed in the set, defeating Texas Arlington 25-22.
 
The Mavericks dominated the first half of the third set, maintaining a lead from the third point through the 16-16 mark, where an attack error by Shelby Dickson gave NSU the lead. From there, both teams battled it out until the Lady Demons came out with a 25-22 win.
 
After starting off 3-0 in the fourth set, NSU fell behind when a kill by UTA's Dickson sparked a 4-0 run and gave the Mavericks a 4-3 lead. Texas Arlington held on to their lead for the remainder of the set, winning 25-21.
 
The fifth and final set was close through the end. A kill by O'Connell put NSU up 14-12 and the Lady Demons finished the set after gaining a point from a UTA attack error.  
 
Three Lady Demons put up double figures in kills against Marist. DiFrancesco had a game-high 13 kills while also digging up nine balls.
 
Kelly Jimenez added a double-double, recording 11 kills and 13 digs.
 
Mackenzie Neely hammered down ten kills and led the team in hitting percentage at .333.
 
“I think Mackenzie came in and kind of imposed her will in our match against Marist,” said Hernesman. “She started for us and then sat the second set. In three and four she really took over and made very tactful swings.
 
“She's a very competitive player and she was a big difference maker in turning the match around for us.”
 
Northwestern State rolled over Marist in the first set, trailing only once and taking the set 25-13.
 
NSU struggled in the second set after a kill by Marist's Katie Estes sparked a 5-0 run. The Red Foxes ran away with the lead and defeated the Lady Demons 25-12.
 
The third set was the most competitive of the four with six ties and three lead changes. Northwestern State took control of the game at the 8-8 mark where a kill by Coleman led to a 5-0 run for the Lady Demons. NSU maintained their lead and won the set 25-20.
 
The Lady Demons were dominant once again in the fourth set, taking the lead at the 3-2 mark and keeping it through the end, defeating Marist 25-14.
 
“To go on the road and beat three quality opponents, especially to beat UTA on their home floor, was really rewarding for our program,” said Hernesman.
 
“We have a lot of people playing well so now we just need to polish it up a bit and I think we are definitely capable to doing that.”
 
Northwestern State plays in their home opener on Tuesday night against Louisiana Tech. The match is slated to begin at 7 p.m. in Prather Coliseum.