NATCHITOCHES – Saturday is already set to be a special day for Northwestern State as it celebrates Homecoming and all the festivities that go along with the annual event.
 
NSU volleyball has the opportunity to step into the limelight as the athletic centerpiece of the celebration weekend when it hosts McNeese at 3 p.m. inside Prather Coliseum and streaming live on ESPN+.
 
The match, which has no charge for admission, will feature recognitions of Mr. and Miss NSU, the 2023 inductees into the N-Club Hall of Fame and the Long Purple Line between the second and third sets during the match and the entire Homecoming court will be presented following the match.
 
Prior to the match, NSU volleyball will also honor and recognize returning alumni with special honor given to the 2014 Southland Conference Tournament championship team as part of their originally scheduled alumni game.
 
Despite the loss to HCU on Thursday night, the Demons have secured at least the number five spot in the upcoming Southland tournament. A win on Saturday would be the first step towards improving their position with a mathematical chance at reaching as high as the third seed.
 
Like they saw on Thursday, the Demons face a tough defensive opponent in McNeese that, like HCU, ranks in the top 10 in the nation in total digs led by libero Bailey Tillman. Tillman has been named conference defensive player of the week four times this year, including each of the past three weeks.
 
But even against the stout defense of the Huskies, the Demons held leads after reaching the 20-point mark in each of the three sets, the latest evidence of a team that continues to close the gap on the top teams in the conference.
 
"We're close and we know that so it is frustrating when you aren't able to sort of get over that hump," head coach Sean Kiracofe said following Thursday's tightly contested loss to HCU. "This was the first match back for Tessa (Gerwig) being back in the lineup. She did some great things but there was some rust there which is to be expected of anybody after that time off. We're right there and just have to keep working to find a way to break through so to speak."
 
Defense has been a calling card for the Demons throughout the season as well too, ranking second in the conference in digs per set at 16.71 and dominating the blocking category to the tune of 2.71 blocks per set as a team, more than half a block better than the next best team, and ranking in the top 10 in the nation in total blocks.
 
Saturday's match is all but guaranteed to come down to which offense is able to battle through the inevitable rally-saving digs on both sides and the play at the net.
 
McNeese is the second best team in the league at not being blocked by opponents, which in turn puts them third best in the Southland in kills per set at 16.78 and a .225 team hitting percentage.