LAKE CHARLES – There will be plenty of defense to go around on Thursday night when Northwestern State faces rival McNeese in a key Southland Conference match.
 
The Demons (9-10, 5-3) bring the league's top blocking unit that averages 2.75 rejections per set, 15^th best in the NCAA, while McNeese (7-13, 5-2) boasts a 17.36 dig per set average, second highest in SLC matches this year. Frustratingly good numbers for both opposing offenses.
 
First serve is set for 6:30 p.m. on ESPN+ from McNeese's Legacy Center.
 
NSU has thrived on the strength of its block all season long, with 10 double-digit block matches in their 19 total on the year. The Demons are coming off a 19-block outing against UIW, the second most in a match this season and one shy of tying the match record of 20, set last year and matched just two weeks ago at Texas A&M-Commerce.
 
Under the guidance of head coach Sean Kiracofe, a former middle blocker himself, NSU has put up some seriously good blocking numbers. But even with his experience at the position, Kiracofe said the primary source of the success is baked into the players.
 
"I've been on team where we've spent a ton of time working on it and trying to perfect it and make it where it's second nature on what they're doing," hesaid. "You do see improvement doing that but we've just been able to recruit players that are better at it and it's shown the past couple seasons. They're just naturally good at it and all we try and do is refine their ability and make minor improvements on what they can do."
 
The middle duo of Reaghan Thompson and Jordan Gamble burst on the scene as season ago as the first teammates at NSU to each record 100 blocks in a season. Thompson has already reached the century mark this season with 102 stops and ranks third in the NCAA in total blocks and Gamble could reach it as well should she maintain her 1.00 block per set average the rest of the season.
 
Thanks to the strong performance at the pins by the likes of Teresa Garza, Tessa Gerwig, Breanna Burrell and Symone Wesley, who all have 25 or more blocks this season as well, the Demons and the middles continually bring a challenge to every team's offense.
 
The Demons face an equally as imposing foe on Thursday in the McNeese defense who like they saw on Saturday against UIW, continues to keep plays alive and balls off the ground to extend rallies. The different between the Cowgirls and the Cardinals, McNeese has shown the ability to put the ball away at a highly efficient rate.
 
"McNeese works really hard on defense and just keeps things alive on balls you may feel like are going to be points and they keep the rally going," Kiracofe said. "That can frustrating to a lot of teams so we've already talked about that this week on staying engaged for the entire point. And then they have the ability to put the ball away. It is going to be a tough match up and an important one, on the road and them right above us in the standings."
 
Led by transfer outside hitter Carissa Chainey's 3.32 kills per set and .235 hitting percentage, the Cowgirls have the second highest team attack percentage in the Southland. Three players for the Cowgirls have attack percentages over .230 with more than 300 attempts on the season.