ABILENE, Texas – Co-head coaches Hugh and Stephanie Hernesman head to familiar stomping grounds on Thursday as the Northwestern State volleyball team hits the road for a Southland Conference match-up with league newcomer Abilene Christian, beginning at seven o'clock at Moody Coliseum.
 
The Hernesman's spent three seasons at American Southwest Conference member Hardin-Simmons, also in Abilene, where Hugh was named ASC West Division Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2006.
 
The Lady Demons (14-10 overall, 10-2 SLC) secured third place in the Southland with the win over Oral Roberts Tuesday evening in Natchitoches, as the Wildcats (6-13, 2-9) split games last week, falling to Southeastern in five on Thursday and defeating New Orleans 3-0 on Saturday.
 
Freshman Ashley Elrod and junior Vanessa Coleman lead the NSU attack as Elrod knocks down 3.00 kills per set and Coleman records a .318 hitting percentage, holding down fourth in the conference. Elrod ranks 13^th in kills and 11^th in service aces with .29 per set.
 
Ranked 18^th nationally, Keelie Arneson sits a top the Southland in digs with 5.25 per set, compared to ACU's Madison Hoover's 4.66 per set and fifth place spot in the SLC.
 
Blocks leader Lexi Mercer holds down the middle for the Wildcats with 1.54 per set while Glynna Johnson puts up .86 per set for the Lady Demons.
 
Setters Emily Johnson and Natalie Jaeger have dished out a combined 876 assists this season. E. Johnson ranks 13^th in the league with 5.59 per set. ACU's Sarah Siemens sits ninth with 8.50 per set.
 
Jennifer Loerch steers the Wildcat pin hitters with 3.23 kills per set, followed by Lexi Mercer with 1.86. Madelyn Robinett and Siemens lead in service aces, knocking down 37 combined aces.
 
The Lady Demons will continue their four-game road-swing with a two o'clock meeting with Incarnate Word on Saturday, also a new member of the Southland. NSU will travel to New Orleans and Southeastern next week before hosting its final home game of the season against Central Arkansas on Nov. 12 at 7:00 at Prather Coliseum.