Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 DENTON, Texas – Sophomore Caiti O'Connell registered a .364 attack percentage to seal the first win of the season for the Northwestern State volleyball team in a 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-19) victory over Prairie View-A&M Friday evening, allowing the Lady Demons to bounce back from a 4-1 (25-18, 21-25, 18-25, 22-25) defeat from Texas State earlier in the day at the North Texas Invitational.
 
"We executed our game plan pretty well and our goal is to continue to play better situational volleyball as the weekend and season progresses," said co-head coach Hugh Hernesman.
 
The Lady Demons improve to 1-4 overall as the Lady Panthers fall to 1-5. The Bobcats moved to 6-0 on the season after this afternoon's win.
 
NSU began with a bang as they put up a 6-0 lead in the first set and kept PVAMU at an arm's length for the rest of the set, holding to them within at least three points at all times.
 
Sets two and three held more competitiveness as the Lady Panthers battled, keeping the score close, but three four-plus point runs from the Lady Demons allowed them to pull away.
 
O'Connell put down 11 kills and a solo block to make her mark. Freshman Ashley Elrod made an all-around contribution, knocking down eight kills and two blocks while digging up 10 PVAMU attacks.
 
Against the Bobcats, NSU controlled the entire first set, maintaining the lead over Texas State, including three large runs to put them on top, but it would not be enough as the Bobcats bounced back strong, taking hold of the rest of the game for the eventual win.
 
"It was a fun match against a very strong Texas State team. I feel like we were one or two situations short from extending that match to five sets. But it was very good volleyball," said Hernesman. "We feel that this match was continued progress as we keep building towards the Southland Conference season."
 
Junior Emily Johnson recorded her second-consecutive double-double of the season as she put up 11 assists and 12 digs.
 
Elrod registered 10 kills, nine digs and two blocks, followed by Stacey DiFrancesco with nine kills, 13 digs and three blocks while Keelie Arneson dug up 17 Texas State attacks.

The Lady Demons will face the host Mean Green and Utah on Saturday at 11:00 and five o'clock, respectively, to round out the North Texas Invitational.