BEAUMONT, Texas – Facing Lamar on Thursday night, the Northwestern State volleyball team opened the Southland Conference portion of its 2017 season much like the 2016 season – earning a sweep (25-18, 25-17, 25-22) on the road.

The Lady Demons (5-10, 1-0 Southland) showcased their balanced attack as two players, outside hitter Reagan Rogers (12) and right side Hannah Brister (11), finished with double-digit kills against the Cardinals (2-9, 0-1).

In the first set, NSU opened on a tear, building an early 10-3 with kill contributions from Brister, Rogers and outside hitter Alexis Warren. The trio went on to control the set, combining for 11 of the team's 12 kills.

"Attacking the pins was the game plan going in," third-year head coach Sean Kiracofe said. "Lamar can be really big at the net depending on the rotation and bunch their blocking base in the middle tighter than most teams. It took our middles out of the game plan early on, but we were able to start getting Kourtney (Seaton) and Madeline (Drake) involved later in the match."

Rogers and Brister produced more of the same in the second set, putting down 10 kills as Seaton added another four herself.

As the match went on, the Lady Demons defense continued to improve, holding Lamar to a .000 hitting percentage in the final set.

With 14 digs on the night, libero Channing Burleson is now just three digs away from tying Rachel Ford at 1,059 for the seventh-most career digs in NSU history.

"Our defense did a good job just like we have come to expect," Kiracofe said. "I think it comes down to being patient as they watch the play develop and then when a situation comes up where they need to cover a lot of ground to get a ball they make aggressive moves.
"Tonight, we had some miscommunications early which is a little uncharacteristic but that all got worked out, and we ended up with a great defensive night in the back court and up at the net."

NSU opened this season with a slate of challenging tournaments, highlighted by matches with Power Five opponents Oklahoma, Colorado and Ole Miss.

"Last weekend and earlier in the preseason had some frustrating moments," Kiracofe said. "But for the most part we played a high level of volleyball.

"We believe those difficult situations are going to prepare us for conference play, and it showed tonight when Lamar made a good push in the third set. They always have a loud gym, but we have been in that type of environment this season and we took it in stride."

Also mirroring the 2016 season, the Lady Demons open conference play with three road matches before returning home to Prather Coliseum.

NSU will remain on the road this weekend as the team prepares for a Saturday matchup against Stephen F. Austin (13-4, 1-0). SFA went 12-4 in Southland competition a season ago, including a pair of sweeps over the Lady Demons.