HAMMOND – The Northwestern State volleyball team hopes to keep its winning ways in Southland Conference competition going Saturday at 1 p.m. with a road match at Southeastern Louisiana.
Winners of five of their last six, the Lady Demons (11-13, 6-3 Southland) hope to avoid a repeat of a similar situation last year, when the team carried a 6-3 record into a home match against the Lions and lost in five sets.
After the Southeastern loss a year ago, the Lady Demons went 1-6 in the team's final seven regular season contests – all in conference.
"I am a student of history so we are aware of last year's match," third-year head coach
Sean Kiracofe said. "But there really is no connection to this season and last at this point."
The Lady Demons have proven to be one of the top teams in the country serving the ball, posting 145 aces on the year, fifth-most in the NCAA.
A committee of players have been responsible for the top-five statistical ranking. Outside hitter
Reagan Rogers leads the team with 30 aces, while five others (
Megan Lohmiller,
Alexis Warren,
Kathryn Wristen,
Madeline Drake and
Channing Burleson) each have recorded 17 or more.
Rogers has been the team's top weapon this season, leading the pack with 296 kills and 3.94 points per set. The next-closest Lady Demons attacker is Brister, a freshman outside hitter, with 196 kills.
"In the last few matches we have relied a little too heavily on a few players," Kiracofe said. "It's great to know we have players that will step up to that challenge, but going into the match vs. (Southeastern Louisiana) we want to spread the ball out more, so we have a balanced offense going into the end of the year."
Drake has been key defensively in the recent string of success for NSU. In the Lady Demons' past six matches, she has recorded 27 total blocks, and leads the team with 84 total blocks for the year. Her 84 blocks are 28 more than any other NSU member.
With 20 digs Thursday night, libero
Channing Burleson eclipsed the 400-mark for the season. Her 5.24 digs per set in conference matches is second in the league.
Updates from Saturday's match will be posted live on Twitter @NSUDemonsVB.
