NATCHITOHCES – For the second time this season Northwestern State is looking to build on a quality third set as it readies to take on UIW on a Saturday afternoon.
 
The Lady Demons are in much the same position they were for a match that was originally scheduled for Feb. 13 but moved back a month because of COVID-19 concerns. They are looking to carry over the strong finish in the loss to Houston Baptist on Thursday, much like the plan was following the loss to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi back in February.
 
In both cases the Lady Demons (2-7, 0-7) pushed their opponents, who had comfortable 2-0 leads in the match, to close finishes of 25-23 and 25-22 in the third and final sets. A combined .203 hitting percentage in those sets that included 22 kills and just seven errors were by far the best of the matches.
 
First serve is set for 1:30 on Saturday afternoon inside Prather Coliseum. There is no charge for admission to all home NSU volleyball matches on the season, but fans are still encouraged to wear masks and practice social distancing while inside the arena.
 
Subscription video for the match will also be available at www.nsudemons.com or on the NSU Athletics mobile app, a free download via the Apple or Google stores.
 
Breanna Burrell was a big part of the offensive surge in the momentum-building sets each time. With 11 kills in the final two sets against HBU, she led all attackers with 12 in the match tying a season high. It was just the second time NSU had a player reach double-figure kills in conference play.
 
"Brea really woke up offensively," head coach Sean Kiracofe said of his freshman outside hitter following her strong finish at HBU. "Being in a 5-1 and on the court six rotations helps with that, but she took full advantage. It allowed us to see a glimpse of the offense we have been running for the past five seasons."
 
While there are plenty of similarities to the first potential meeting between the two teams, the difference now may come from the steady growth that players like Audrey Quesnel and Autumn Gentry have made since February.
 
Quesnel, another freshman who has been excellent in the middle, has provided consistency on offense and defense that the Lady Demons are looking for match by match. Six kills in three straight matches prior to Thursday and three or more blocks six different times this season has made Quesnel a staple on the court.
 
After her season-opening triple-double, Gentry has settled into her role on the floor and given the Lady Demons a dig-assist double-double in three of the past four matches, including setting a new season high with 19 assists against HBU, extending a streak of six matches with 10 or more assists.
 
NSU will look to have as much of the third set against HBU carry over to Saturday as it can as it takes on UIW (2-7, 2-5).
 
The Cardinals have lost their last two matches by 3-1 margins finishing with their two lowest hitting percentages of the season, below .115 each time. Although the overall team numbers were down, Bethany Clapp, the junior outside has been putting up big numbers all season.
 
"UIW has some big middles and big right sides and arguably one of the best outsides in the conference right now in Clapp," Kiracofe said. "Even with the options they have in their 6-2 they'll give her the ball regardless and she can handle it. But they don't necessarily have to do that if some other people get on a roll."
 
A true go-to player, Clapp is averaging 11.5 swings per set, including a season-high 75 in a five-set loss to Abilene Christian. She leads the team with a 3.9 kill per set average, more than 1.5 kills greater than the second-best average.