FORT WORTH, Texas – The Northwestern State volleyball team will not face the tournament host in this weekend's season-opening TCU Invitational.
 
That does not mean the Lady Demons have an easy task ahead of them as the 2016 season dawns.
 
"This is going to be a very, very tough tournament," second-year head coach Sean Kiracofe said. "Top to bottom, this is probably the toughest tournament we will play. The other three (tournaments) have really tough opponents we have to work and compete with and play at our best. This one, top to bottom, has Arkansas State, who had a great run last year, Boise State, who is picked to compete with Colorado State in the Mountain West and N.C. State from the ACC, which is always tough. It's a tough weekend to start with, and we'll see what we've got right away."
 
Northwestern State opens its season at 11 a.m. Friday against North Carolina State. The Wolfpack finds itself in a similar situation to the one the Lady Demons faced a year ago, breaking in a new coach.
 
NSU's busy opening day continues at 3 p.m. when it faces Arkansas State, an NCAA Tournament team in 2015 that returns 12 of 15 letter winners from a team that posted a 28-2 record this past season.
 
The Lady Demons conclude the first of four 2016 regular-season tournaments by facing Boise State at 10 a.m. Saturday.
 
"There's no easing into it," Kiracofe said. "There's going to be tough competition right from the start with three very experienced teams. N.C. State with a  new coach may have some things they're working through and figuring out, but Arkansas State and Boise State will be ready to go from point one."
 
Northwestern State went 7-22 in Kiracofe's first season but suffered three five-set losses, going 1-3 in matches that went the distance.
 
Those narrow margins provided glimpses of progress and teachable moments for Kiracofe and his staff.
 
"We talked about that all spring and in the fall when we started up," he said. "We had a lot of turning points so to speak, and we didn't take advantage of a lot of those. We got some momentum from those and didn't carry that into the conference season like we hoped.
 
"When we see those situations this season – in the preseason with these tournaments and later in conference play – we'll be better prepared to maintain that momentum or to snap out of some difficult runs."
 
Facing a loaded first tournament will give Northwestern State's six newcomers a chance to grow up quickly.
 
This weekend marks the first time five of NSU's six newcomers have been part of a collegiate volleyball match. The other, transfer outside hitter Victoria Harris, redshirted her lone semester at Cincinnati.
 
"You can see it both ways," Kiracofe said of opening with what he considers NSU's toughest tournament challenge.
 
"I like it right from the start. You see what college volleyball is all about and what the season is going to be about. On the other side, a couple of easier matches – whatever those may be – are nice to have to gain some confidence, but eventually you have to play somebody tough who will show you what your weaknesses are and tell everyone on the court that you have to step up and perform at this level to compete."
 
TCU Invitational Schedule
Friday, Aug. 26
11 a.m. - Northwestern State vs. N.C. State
3 p.m. - Arkansas State vs. Northwestern State
6 p.m. – N.C. State at TCU
Saturday, Aug. 27
10 a.m. - Boise State vs. Northwestern State
1 p.m. – N.C. State vs. Arkansas State
4 p.m. – N.C. State vs. Boise State
7 p.m. – Arkansas State at TCU
Sunday, Aug. 29
2 p.m. – Boise State at TCU