THIBODAUX – The Northwestern State volleyball team has become accustomed to strong starts in Southland Conference play.
 
Three times in the past four seasons, the Lady Demons have won their conference opener, extending that streak with Thursday's sweep of McNeese. Just once in that time, however, has Northwestern State won its first two conference matches.
 
The 2016 Lady Demons will try to post the program's first 2-0 conference start since 2013 when it faces Nicholls at 1 p.m. Saturday.
 
Northwestern State (6-10, 1-0) can equal its win total from this past season as it faces the Colonels (4-12, 0-1) in Stopher Gym. The last time the Lady Demons headed to Thibodaux with a chance to open conference with back-to-back wins they fell to the homestanding Colonels in 2014.
 
"Any road win, in or out of conference, is tough to come by," second-year head coach Sean Kiracofe said. "Specifically in conference, road wins are hard to get. To get one out of the way at the start of conference (Thursday at McNeese) is a huge confidence builder. No matter the situation, we can look back on that match, winning on the road, and calm us down if things aren't going well early on at Nicholls. We should be able to push through and make a match of it."
 
The Lady Demons enter their second SLC match brimming with confidence after putting together their best offensive performance of the season against McNeese on Thursday.
 
Northwestern State hit a season-best .339 with no player hitting less than .235 as it snapped a four-match losing streak. Freshman Alexis Warren led the way with 14 kills and added 10 digs for her sixth double-double of the season.
 
The Colonels dropped their conference opener in four sets to Central Arkansas and carry an eight-match losing streak into Saturday.
 
Despite Nicholls' record, Kiracofe said his team will carry the same mind-set into Saturday's match it did Thursday night in Lake Charles.
 
"Nicholls didn't have the season they wanted last year," he said. "They've been a bit of a surprise this season. They've played some good people really though. They're figuring some things out from last year. When you're on the road, you never know what's going to happen down there."