NATCHITOCHES – In April 2015, Kylie Spencer was always certain her hard work was for naught.
 
As she expected, Spencer did not play during her freshman volleyball season at Northwestern State, taking the time to soak up knowledge from All-American libero Keelie Arneson. 
 
When co-head coaches Hugh and Stephanie Hernesman left for Clemson, Spencer was unsure what to expect.
 
"It was frustrating, because I had done so much work during practice to make sure I had their system down, and I had a chance to play the next year," Spencer said. "I thought, 'I could go in as a DS (defensive specialist) and play for this team.' I had been focused on learning their system and they left. The new coaches came in, and it was a completely different system then what we had been used to."
 
After a trying transitional 2015 season, the addition of head coach Sean Kiracofe and his staff has proved beneficial for Spencer and the Lady Demons (10-12, 5-2), who host Southland Conference foe New Orleans (4-14, 1-4) at 7 p.m. Thursday inside Prather Coliseum.


Admission to the match and all Northwestern State volleyball matches are free thanks to the sponsorship of Red River Mill Federal Credit Union. 
 
After not playing as a freshman, Spencer made her collegiate debut Sept. 1, 2015, in Northwestern State's five-set win against UL Lafayette. Spencer quickly found her niche along the Lady Demons' back line. 
 
The numbers bear that out. 
 
Spencer is one of five Lady Demons in triple digits in digs (141) despite not playing a full six rotations. 
 
And although not an attacker, Spencer has found a way to help deliver NSU points, serving up 11 aces thanks to a tip from Kiracofe, who moved Spencer well beyond the baseline, allowing her serve to add movement and deception.
 
"She really added something we lacked last year, which was consistency in serve receive," said assistant coach Alicia Roth, who closely works with NSU's setters, liberos and defensive specialists. 
 
Spencer's service reception abilities fit nicely with what Kiracofe and his staff asked for from their team.
 
The transition to Kiracofe's and Roth's coaching style also hearkened back to Spencer's time at Concordia Lutheran High School in Conroe, Texas, and to her club days with the Woodlands WAVE.
 
"(The Hernesmans') technique was really different to me," Spencer said. "I was used to angles, which is what Sean is teaching us now. They knew the work I put in and the training I built up in their system. Then again, (Kiracofe's) style of play is what I'm used to, so it was something I picked up faster."
 
With a dedicated role, Spencer has become a key part of the Lady Demons' rotation, helping NSU surpass its 2015 win total and equal its 2015 Southland Conference win total with nine conference matches remaining.
 
While remaining one of NSU's most consistent receivers, Spencer has expanded her overall role.
 
"She's worked her way up on defense," Roth said. "That has made us different this year. She's done both of those consistently."
 
Ever a defensive-minded player, Spencer's mentality focuses on keeping NSU's opponents off the board more than her adding points to the Lady Demons' tally.
 
"Setting up and getting a good dig so my hitters can be successful is the same feeling to me as getting a kill, especially rundown plays where somebody shanks it off to the side and I run it down and bring it back," Spencer said. "That's the same feeling as getting a kill."
 
While Spencer's serve varies from many of her teammates, so does her leadership style.
 
Roth said Spencer has "a very welcoming personality" and is easy to communicate with on the court. That has helped Spencer keep NSU's back line aligned when it comes to serve receive, which also keeps Spencer locked in to her specialty.
 
"For serve receive, I try not to get into position too early," Spencer said. "I stand there and focus on their hitters. We scout what they're running, so I focus on something else, like who they have on the front row. Then, I try to focus on the other passers next to me and let them know their responsibilities."
 
As far as talking on the court, that may be as far as Spencer goes. 
 
The characterization of many volleyball teams after scoring a point is an emotive group huddle highlighted by high-pitched screams. Spencer will be there, alongside her teammates, just don't expect to hear from her.
 

Said Spencer: "Just being one of the four who were with (the Hernesmans), I feel like I'm with Bailey (Martin), Natalie (Jaeger) and Lauren (Agan). We're in different classes, but I feel I'm at the same level. I just lead in a different way. I'm not a big screamer. I don't bring that kind of energy like Natalie. I just keep the chaos down. That's my role."