NATCHITOCHES – The Northwestern State volleyball program continues home play on Saturday, looking to stay undefeated at Prather Coliseum on the season when the squad welcomes Southeastern Louisiana for an 11:30 a.m. match.

With the home football date, parking for Prather Coliseum will be $10 beginning at 10 a.m. As always, admission into the match is free.

NSU (8-12, 5-2 Southland Conference) is coming off a sweep over New Orleans on Thursday in which the Lady Demons limited the Privateers to an .088 hitting percentage highlighted by four players registering three or more total blocks.

In the win, NSU was without senior outside hitter Stacey DiFrancesco who is day-to-day with a personal illness. In her spot, redshirt-junior Caiti O'Connell stepped in and tallied seven key kills – second only to senior Mackenzie Neely's 10.

"I thought that Bailey (Martin) stepped in a good ball control role and I thought Caiti stepped in and passed the ball real well and kept us in system," fifth-year co-head coach Hugh Hernesman said. "That's been the theme for us lately. We've been talking a lot about serving and passing. I thought we handled the ball in first contact real well."

Southeastern Louisiana (7-12, 4-3 SLC) enters Saturday following a sweep at the hands of Stephen F. Austin. As a team, the Lady Lions rank fourth in the league in opponent hitting percentage at .191.

Southeastern's defense is led by junior libero Todd Morgan who ranks third in the Southland with 5.15 digs per set. While Morgan checks in as the squad's shortest player at 5-5, the Lady Lions are a team known for its size boasting eight players who are 6-0 or taller.

"Southeastern is a big physical team," Hernesman said. "They're playing very well right now. We were playing a team (New Orleans) that was a little smaller and more skilled in the backcourt. Now you have Southeastern who brings a big block.

"We'll have to play a bit differently. Our whole preseason was full of big physical teams so that hopefully has us prepared for another good opponent on Saturday."

Saturday's match will mark the 55^th meeting all-time between the two squads. NSU holds a 28-26 advantage in the series including capturing two wins over the Lady Lions a season ago – both victories coming in five sets. Since arriving on campus in 2010, co-head coaches Hugh and Stephanie Hernesman have posted a perfect 8-0 record against Southeastern.