NATCHITOCHES – The Northwestern State volleyball team hosts Incarnate Word on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the team's Southland Conference home opener and annual "Fork Cancer" match.

Thursday's "Fork Cancer" match is part of Fork Cancer week that NSU athletics includes in promotions annually during October.

"A member of our staff, Ashley (Hardee)'s wife (Dori), is going through a situation with (breast) cancer at the moment, so it hits closer to home," third-year head coach Sean Kiracofe said. "It's always an important thing every single year that we do to be able to show some support to some people that go through that struggle, and to help out any way that we can. To have that closer to us right now has more meaning."

As a part of Fork Cancer week, NSU fans can bid on their favorite Lady Demons player's pink jersey both at the match and online at http://www.nsudemons.com/auctions/ until 8 p.m. Thursday. A portion of the proceeds from the auction will go to the American Cancer Society.

"It gives us a connection to our fans here in Natchitoches, or anywhere they may be," Kiracofe said. "It's a good thing to be able to take those donations and give them to the American Cancer Society."

Since UIW (3-9, 2-1) joined the Southland, the Lady Demons (6-12, 1-2) have won every matchup, but one, dating to 2013. The Cardinals last beat NSU in a five-set match in 2015, Kiracofe's first season.

2017 is an important season for UIW athletics as it is the program's first season of eligibility in Southland Conference postseason action.

"I'm sure that's a lot of extra motivation for them," Kiracofe said. "They've had some struggles this year, but they've returned a lot. They have a lot of athletes out there, and they do a lot of good things. It's going to be a touch match no matter what and it's a conference match at home, so it should be something that we step up for."

Through three conference matches, middle blocker Madeline Drake is second in the Southland in hitting percentage at .419. In 31 attacks, Drake has recorded 16 kills and just three errors.

Libero Channing Burleson has excelled in conference matches as well. She is fourth in the Southland in digs per set with 4.90.

Burleson, averaging 4.23 digs per set in all matches this season, is nine digs from fifth all-time in the NSU career record book.

Outside hitter Reagan Rogers averages a team-high 3.37 points per set as well as 2.80 kills per set.

Freshman Hannah Brister, who made a surge for a starting spot early in the season is now second on the team in kills per set with 2.38.

"We have our best roster in years," Kiracofe said. "We've changed some things with our lineup and it takes a little while to kind of figure out the nuances with different people playing next to each other."

The Lady Demons will stay home for another home conference match this weekend as the team takes on Texas A&M - Corpus Christi on Saturday at 1 p.m.