ABILENE, Texas – Something Sean Kiracofe noticed when he began looking at the Northwestern State volleyball program he inherited in April was the team's home-road splits.
 
NSU had been wildly successful within Prather Coliseum, going 14-4 at home in 2013 and 2014 – a span that included a 3-0 run to the 2014 Southland Conference Tournament championship.
 
The road was another story, something Kiracofe was determined to change.
 
"We've talked all year about maintaining our home-court advantage and winning at home, then improving the road record," Kiracofe said. "The past few years, when they've had success in conference, it's been dependent on winning at home and not picking up as many wins as they would like on the road. That's something we've talked about since two-a-days. Our first road trip, we'd like to go out there and get some wins."
 
That road trip begins Thursday when NSU (3-13, 1-2 Southland) faces Abilene Christian (0-14, 0-1) at 6:30 p.m. at Moody Coliseum. Northwestern State concludes the road trip with an 11 a.m. Saturday matchup against Incarnate Word in San Antonio.
 
NSU dropped a five-set decision to Sam Houston State on Tuesday night to start a stretch of three matches in five days.
 
The Bearkats featured the Southland Conference's third- and fourth-ranked hitters in kills per set in Brooke White and Jordyn Vaughn. Abilene Christian, meanwhile, features Jennifer Loerch, who ranks sixth in the conference in kills per set at 3.28.
 
"They have a lot of offensive options, a big aggressive setter and Loerch is one of the better L1s in the Southland," Kiracofe said. "They have had some issues with consistency but have been able to take sets off of very good teams in and out of the conference."
 
Northwestern State has three players who rank in the top 10 in the Southland's individual rankings – Natalie Jaeger in aces per set (2^nd, 0.56), Glynna Johnson in hitting percentage (5^th, .344) and Bailey Martin in digs per set (10^th, 3.24). Jaeger entered Tuesday's match ranked fourth nationally in aces per set.
 
Northwestern State has traveled to Abilene twice since the Wildcats joined the Southland Conference, emerging victorious in both matchups.
 
Thursday's match follows the same pattern as NSU's 2013 trip to West Texas in which NSU faced the Wildcats in the middle of a three-matches-in-five-days run.
 
"With a quick turnaround from a hard-fought match against Sam Houston and traveling, we will see how well we can change our focus," Kiracofe said. "But I believe this group can do that."