Box Score HOUSTON, Texas – Ashley Elrod, Stacey DiFrancesco and Vanessa Coleman all registered double-digit kills to aid in the 3-1 (25-15, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21) victory for the Northwestern State volleyball team over Southland Conference newcomer Houston Baptist Thursday night in league-action at Sharp Gym.
 
The Lady Demons pick up their fourth win in a row, improving to 11-9 overall, 7-1 in the SLC as the Huskies drop to 9-12, 4-5.
 
"We were happy that we were able to pull that out and play fairly well despite playing with some injuries," said fourth year co-head coach Hugh Hernesman. "It was a bit strange because we went in spurts of individual performances."
 
NSU maintained total control throughout the entire first set to take an early lead and fell in a neck-and-neck battle in set two to enter the break tied 1-1.
 
The Lady Demons used a game-high four-point run in set three to put up a 20-15 lead before tacking on five more points for the 25-22 final. 
 
Set four was a point battle as both teams took turns taking the lead until NSU knocked down six in a row to put up a 19-13 advantage and put the Huskies at an arm's length. The Lady Demons chipped away at the board and held HBU to just 21 points as they sealed the win, 25-21.
 
Elrod, DiFrancesco and Emily Johnson notched double-doubles on the evening as Elrod knocked down 16 kills and 12 digs and DiFrancesco added 11 kills and 15 digs. Johnson dished out 14 assists and 10 digs as Coleman recorded a season-high 10 kills, while also adding three blocks.
 
Libero Keelie Arneson matched her season-high with 34 digs and nine assists. Freshman setter Natalie Jaeger recorded a season-high 29 assists while also digging up seven HBU attacks. Glynna Johnson led from the middle with six blocks on the evening, tying her season-high as well.
 
"Keelie was great throughout the match," said Hernesman. "We defended them a little different than we have been defending other teams so far this year- which put a lot of pressure on her specifically - ending up with 34 digs, which was pretty impressive. "
 
"Vanessa virtually won the third set by herself with six kills with Ashley kicking in another six. And then in the fourth set, Stacey got hot and ran off seven kills that were all very crucial."
 
"It just shows the ability we have in our offense for various people to impact the match. Once you pay attention to one or two, then others will step up and hurt you. If makes things very difficult for opposing teams."
 
The Lady Demons continue on to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi for a Saturday afternoon match with the Islanders slated to begin at two o'clock at the Dugan Wellness Center. NSU returns home on Oct. 24 and 26 for a pair of "Dig Pink" matches with Lamar and Sam Houston State. The Lady Demons will be wearing pink uniforms in honor of breast cancer awareness month.