NATCHITOCHES – Third-year head coach Sean Kiracofe knew his team was capable of competing with and taking out the top-level Southland Conference volleyball competitors early in the season. With wins over two of the top four teams and a tough five-set loss to top-ranked Central Arkansas on Tuesday night, Kiracofe's beliefs have been confirmed.

The Lady Demons (13-15, 8-5) nearly added another signature win in conference action.

Following a strong third set coming out of intermission, Central Arkansas (22-3, 11-2) used a fourth-set rally as a springboard to a strong fifth set as the Sugar Bears rallied for a 3-2 (27-29, 25-15, 17-25, 25-19, 15-5) victory against Northwestern State on Tuesday night in Prather Coliseum.

After the teams split the first two sets, the Lady Demons (13-15, 8-5) came out of the break and delivered a strong third set.

Behind its defense, the Lady Demons put themselves in position to knock off the Sugar Bears, holding Central Arkansas to an -.026 hitting percentage in the swing set.

"I thought we played well," Kiracofe said. "We made them sub out their starting setter, starting outside, starting middles and one of their best players. We made them make some huge changes. We started to do that up at their place too, but we just couldn't quite get things going offensively to take advantage of it.

"But I thought it was two times in a row now that we have found ways to make them frustrated and to make some subbing changes. I was happy to see that."

The Sugar Bears found their rhythm late in the fourth set after NSU tied it at 17. Central Arkansas ran off six of the next seven points, setting itself up to square the match at two sets apiece.

In the decisive fifth set, it was the Sugar Bears offense that took over as UCA hit .714 on 14 error-free attacks.

Junior outside hitter Reagan Rogers paced Northwestern State's offense with a match-high 17 kills. Rogers bumped her season total to 362 kills, moving into ninth place on NSU's single-season list.

Channing Burleson, the reigning Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week, collected 29 more digs, leading three Lady Demons with at least 14 digs. Kylie Spencer (19) and Megan Lohmiller (14) rounded out the double-figure dig trio.

Freshman Hannah Brister added 11 kills while Alexis Warren chipped in 10.

"I thought we did a really good job of spreading out our offense," Kiracofe said. "That was something we focused on. We're going to add some new things here in the next couple weeks to give different looks in some different situations."

Samantha Anderson paced UCA's offense with 14 kills while setter Elizabeth Armstrong posted a double-double of 34 assists and 10 digs before delivering the match-clinching kill.

"We served well enough that we could keep it going to the outsides," Kiracofe said. "Eventually when we start moving our block out there to take away their shots you know they're going to be able to push it back in the middle. It's kind of just a game of going back and forth."

Northwestern State heads to Houston on Saturday for its final road match of the season. The Lady Demons will face Houston Baptist at 1 p.m. The teams met earlier this season with HBU grabbing a five-set win in Natchitoches on Oct. 17.