MONROE -- Finally given the chance to compete against someone other than themselves, the Northwestern State volleyball team did not disappoint.

The Lady Demons cruised past Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday afternoon in a preseason exhibition in straight sets, 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-14), and even won a fourth set over the Warhawks on the day 25-21.

"I couldn't ask for much more from our first match up against a different team," head coach Sean Kiracofe said. "Even with it being an exhibition, there are a few jitters that showed in the first few points on both sides. Add to that ULM making different decisions with the ball compared to what we have been used to in practice playing against each other and it was a close first. set. What I loved to see out there was how composed we were and how we approach the set with a collective problem solving mindset."

Both teams had their runs in the first set but it was NSU that would take the final stretch in the opener and pull away for the 25-19 victory. Senior Alexis Warren capped off the win with a hammering shot for the final point.

There was quite a bit of deja vu during the second and third sets of the match. Both sets saw an early 6-6 tie, but in each frame it was NSU that would make a play to swing the momentum to their side.

Warren and freshman Addison McDermott combined for a crucial block in the second that propelled the Lady Demons to another 25-19 win. During the service of Megan Lohmiller in the third, NSU would go on a 7-0 run and eventual 17-9 lead. Freshman Haley Hoang helped close things delivering three aces in the final handful of points, giving the Demons the 25-14 win.

"I talked about wanting to get more production out of the middles and I think we got that today," Kiracofe said. "It would really show up on the box score from a total numbers standpoint, but they were consistently involved. Both Cayman and Skylar did a great job forcing the ball to the middles in time that we have been working on. Still room to improve but I saw what I wanted from both the middles and setters."

The teams played a fourth and final set, even with NSU having won the three previous, and despite a late flurry of Warhawk blocks and points, the Demons held on for the 25-21 winner.

"Something I was impressed with, but wasn't surprised about, was that when we change around line ups it didn't matter where we had people and it still worked," Kiracofe noted. "Both freshmen, Addison McDermott and Haley Hoang, did not look like freshmen. I feel like we have a great starting lineup, but it was impressive to see the versatility we have available to us."

The regular season starts in less than a week for the Lady Demons, who travel to Arkansas next Friday for the 2019 opening match.

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