NATCHITOCHES – There will be more of a family feel to Prather Coliseum at noon Saturday when the Northwestern State volleyball team returns to action.
The middle portion of a three-match Southland Conference homestand is Family Day for NSU, which hosts Nicholls at noon.
"It creates a great atmosphere for the team to have their families around," first-year head coach
Sean Kiracofe said. "Our parents and families travel well for the most part, but to have the vast majority of all family members here for one match really is a great environment. It sets the team at ease, and it's a nice way to recognize their parents for everything they do that allows (the players) to get to this point."
Either Northwestern State (2-12, 0-1) or Nicholls (5-8, 0-1) will earn their first conference win of 2015.
Northwestern State, the defending Southland Conference Tournament champion, fell to McNeese State, 3-0, on Thursday, while Nicholls dropped a 3-0 decision to defending SLC regular-season champion Stephen F. Austin.
The last time the teams met, Nicholls swept Northwestern State in September 2014. Combined with the larger number of family and friends expected to be in Prather Coliseum, there will be no lack of motivation for the hosts.
"We lost to them to start (conference play) last year," Kiracofe said. "I think that's something the girls are thinking back on. They want to get that match back and be able to beat them."
Northwestern State's
Glynna Johnson ranks second in the conference in hitting percentage, posting a .370 mark, committing just 13 errors in 51 sets.
Natalie Jaeger is second in the Southland in service aces per set, collecting 25 in 46 sets (0.54).
Nicholls' service game is strong as well, ranking third in the conference in aces per set (1.63). A pair of Colonels – Anna Niederhauser (third, 0.47) and Kayla Mashburn (fifth, 0.43) – rank in the top five among Southland players in individual aces per set.
Northwestern State will close out its three-match Southland Conference homestand Tuesday when it hosts Sam Houston State.
