NATCHITOCHES – The Northwestern State volleyball team has spent the majority of the 2018 season far away from its home court at Prather Coliseum.
 
That changes Thursday night when the Lady Demons open a four-match homestand by hosting defending Southland Conference Tournament champion Central Arkansas at 6 p.m.
 
Admission to the match is free thanks to the support of the Demons Unlimited Foundation. Streaming video of the match is available on www.NSUDemons.com or through the Northwestern State athletics mobile app, available for download in both the Apple Store and on Google Play.
 
In addition to a compelling matchup, the annual LUX Fashion Show is set for Thursday and will take place between the second and third sets.
 
Northwestern State (6-8, 2-2) embarks on its longest home stretch of the season by facing a Central Arkansas squad that sits one game behind league-leading Stephen F. Austin, who comes to Natchitoches on Saturday.
 
"It's a difficult week at home, but I will take this compared to the three matches in a week all on the road," said fourth-year head coach Sean Kiracofe, whose team played three road matches in five days this past week. "Both of these teams are at the top of the conference. There's no harder week that you can have. We've always stepped up and played well at Prather, so we're looking forward to it."
 
While the Lady Demons were road warriors a week ago, the Sugar Bears (13-4, 3-1) took advantage of playing three times at the Prince Center in Conway, Arkansas, rolling past Southeastern Louisiana, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Houston Baptist.
 
Samantha Anderson, the reigning Southland Conference Player of the Year, found her form in the past three matches, hitting no less than .321 in all three matches to earn Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors.
 
At 6-foot-3, Anderson provides a different challenge for the Lady Demons, one that has forced Kiracofe to reach back into his younger days and participate in practice.
 
"Everything hurts a little bit more, but I would hope I could go out there and compete just a little bit," he said. "It gives them a different look at how big of a block she is, and it's something I'm glad to do."
 
Despite Anderson's credentials, the Sugar Bears are far from a one-woman show.
 
Central Arkansas enters Thursday's match as the top hitting team in conference play (.255) with Savannah Allen hitting a league-best .432.
 
"Their outsides are producing really well so far," Kiracofe said. "Both middles can score. (Allen) can put on a highlight show if you let her. They're a little different from last year but have the same strengths."
 
Northwestern State flashed that same type of offensive versatility in snapping a two-match losing streak at Nicholls on Saturday.
 
Reagan Rogers led Northwestern State with 14 kills while Hannah Brister added 12 as each tallied at least 32 attacks in a four-set win. In both of Northwestern State's four-set conference wins, it has had at least two players with 20 or more attempts.
 
"I feel like we have a lot of options," Kiracofe said. "It's not always easy to get everyone the ball. Then there are times where you have clear advantages, and you have to keep feeding somebody. It was good to spread it out among a bunch of different players like we did Saturday."