NATCHITOCHES – The Northwestern State volleyball team returned home Thursday night, looking like its early-season self.

The Lady Demons put an end to a three-match losing streak in short order, dispatching Southland Conference foe Nicholls, 3-0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-20).

Northwestern State (14-16, 9-6) hid any signs of fatigue against Nicholls (4-24, 2-13), hitting .305 and holding the Colonels to a .146 hitting percentage.

"Honestly, I didn't even know that we had lost that many in a row," third-year head coach Sean Kiracofe said. "Because it doesn't feel like we had been losing. We've been right there, with just a point here or there, from taking away a match from what are considered some of the best teams in the conference. Here and there we've had some bad sets, but overall, we've been playing some great volleyball."

Middle blocker Madeline Drake put together her fourth straight match with five or more block assists. In four matches, she has assisted on 21 rejections while collecting a solo block as well.

"She's had a good run lately," Kiracofe said. "I was a middle. I was a middles coach coming up, so I wish we'd block better, but our defense is always back there to dig balls. Madeline has done a great job, and has improved on a game-by-game basis. She has really helped step up our blocking stats with her consistency, and continues to be a force offensively. It's been good to see that development as we go toward the end of the season and into the conference tournament."

For the year, Drake has sent back 109 shots, more than enough to lead the team. Like most of her teammates, she has ramped up her production in conference matches, blocking 1.02 shots per set in league competition.

"As a middle, it's always my goal to close out the block," Drake said. "I work really hard to set up the block and my pin hitters set up a good block tonight, so it just worked out in my favor."

Outside hitter Reagan Rogers led all players with 17 kills while her freshman teammate Hannah Brister hit an astounding .538 with 16 kills. Rogers also contributed on the defensive end, digging the ball 15 times for her 12^th double-double of the year.

"Kat's (Wristen) sets were amazing tonight," Brister said. "The team chemistry is there. We just work really well together on and off the court."

Rogers' 17 kills placed her another step up in the NSU single-season record book, overtaking current assistant coach Stacey DiFrancesco for the No. 6 position.

"Reagan was on a roll as usual," Kiracofe said. "Hannah really stepped up and scored for us, especially when we needed it to get out of sideout. They did a really good job tonight."

NSU made life difficult early on for Nicholls, limiting the Colonels to .116 hitting while holding them to nine kills and four errors in the opening set.

"For the last two years, we've been a defensive ball control team, and Channing (Burleson) has led the way with that" Kiracofe said. "Kylie (Spencer) and Megan (Lohmiller) played a big role in that as well. That's just something we rely on. To know that we can keep rallies going because we have those three in the back line makes it easier on everybody."

Libero Channing Burleson recorded 10 of her match-high 26 digs in the first set. Her 543 digs this season rank fourth all-time in single season NSU rankings. Burleson's 572 digs a season ago rank third.

"I mean it's nice," Burleson said regarding the individual mark. "But it's not anything I think about going into the match. I just go out there and play the best that I can for my team."

The Lady Demons controlled the final two sets of the match, hitting .382 in the second and .273 in the finale.

Outside hitter Alexis Warren put together one of her best matches as of late, adding seven kills while recording no errors.

"Lex` had a really smart game," Kiracofe said. "Nicholls played some great defense tonight. They made it difficult on her, so to get out of there without any errors is really impressive."

The Lady Demons return to Prather Coliseum on Saturday at 1 p.m. to take on McNeese in the regular season finale. The match will serve as senior day for Spencer, the Lady Demons' lone senior.