HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Northwestern State volleyball team made a late push Saturday afternoon, but it wasn't enough to collect a road victory at Sam Houston State.
 
After the Lady Demons extended the match with a third-set victory, the Bearkats rallied in the fourth set to notch a 3-1 win (25-22, 25-19, 21-25, 25-21) in the Southland Conference match.
 
Northwestern State (8-12, 4-6) dropped its second straight match despite a 20 kills from Hannah Brister, who notched the first 20-kill conference match of her career.
 
"Hannah really stepped up for us today and had a great match scoring and blocking on the right and left," fourth-year head coach Sean Kiracofe said. "She had a great match against a very good defensive team and continues to show how versatile she is for us."
 
Sam Houston State (17-5, 9-1) got a 21-kill, 23-dig performance from Taylor Cunningham as the Bearkats edged NSU in hitting percentage, .149-.148.
 
After a back-and-forth opening set that Sam Houston State captured thanks to a 4-1 finishing kick, Northwestern State enjoyed its quickest start of the afternoon in the second set, scoring the first four points, which included a pair of kills from Brister.
 
However, a Sam Houston State timeout came at the right time as the Bearkats tallied seven of the next 10 points to even the set. That momentum carried Sam Houston State to a 16-11 lead before the Lady Demons responded with a quick three-point burst.
 
Sam Houston State put the set away with another strong finish before the Lady Demons played their most complete set in the third.
 
NSU hit just .170 in the third set, but the Lady Demons limited Sam Houston State to a .042 hitting percentage in the frame to extend the match. Trailing 19-17, Northwestern State went on an 8-2 run to clinch the set.
 
Brister played a key role in the run, collecting three kills (including the clincher), a solo block and a block assist.
 
While the Lady Demons' block came around later in the match, posting 12 in the match, Channing Burleson was her consistent self, anchoring the NSU back line. Burleson notched 30 digs, collecting her second 30-dig match this season, both of which have come in four-set matches.
 
"Channing once again showed she is the best libero in the Southland Conference," Kiracofe said. "She had a lot of amazing one-on-one defensive plays and kept us in system in serve receive the entire match against a difficult-serving team."
 
The Bearkats' defense stood tall in the fourth set, holding NSU to an .065 hitting percentage to secure the victory.
 
Northwestern State will return to action in one week, traveling to Hammond to face Southeastern Louisiana at 1 p.m. on Oct. 27.