NATCHITOCHES – Led by three-time Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week, Keelie Arneson, the Northwestern State volleyball team hosts Lamar in league action Thursday evening at seven o'clock at Prather Coliseum.
 
The Lady Demons (12-9 overall, 8-1 SLC), who have won 11 of their last 12 matches and remain undefeated at home, will support the Dig Pink foundation and breast cancer awareness month for the entire week by giving away t-shirts to the first 100 fans through the door.
 
The Cardinals (8-14, 6-4) enter Thursday's match on a four-game win-streak, picking up wins over Southeastern and New Orleans last week.
 
While leading Northwestern State and the Southland with 5.21 digs per set, Arneson also sits 19^th nationally. Oral Roberts' Bruna Silva ranks closest to the Klein Oak High School product among league competitors as she holds down 30^th with 4.99 digs per set.
 
From the attack, freshman Ashley Elrod knocks down 2.96 kills per set while digging up 2.63 attacks per set. The Arlington, Texas, native leads the Lady Demons with seven double-doubles this season.
 
Caiti O'Connell and Stacey DiFrancesco have proven as strong pin-hitters as well, recording 2.86 and 2.12 kills per set, respectively. Setters Emily Johnson and Natalie Jaeger have dished out a combined 753 assists this season.
 
Glynna Johnson, Amanda Kunz and Vanessa Coleman hold down the middle. G. Johnson stands eighth in the Southland with .90 blocks per set while steering the team with 69 total blocks. Kunz follows just behind with 43 total blocks as Coleman has put up 32 total.
 
Sitting fifth in the Southland kills ledger, Sierra Whittaker leads Lamar with 3.49 kills per set. Junior Megan Schwartz holds ranks in the aces and digs columns, knocking down .44 aces per set and 3.80 digs per set. Freshman Alexa Johnson dishes out 8.64 assists per set to hold eighth in the league.
 
Northwestern State will continue its three-game home-stretch as Sam Houston State visits on Saturday at 2:00 and Oral Roberts heads to Natchitoches on Tuesday for a 7:00 match.