NATCHITOCHES, La. – The Northwestern State Demons' volleyball team hosts the UT-Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. for 'Demons After Dark' Blackout Game at Prather Coliseum.

Fans are encouraged to wear black to the game as the Demons (1-27, 0-14 SLC) take on the Southland Conference leading Vaqueros (18-7, 13-1 SLC). 

The Demons continue to show signs of improvement as the season closes this week. Despite the loss Saturday to the East Texas A&M Lions (9-17, 7-7 SLC), NSU won a set in the match for their first set victory in the conference season. The Demons were led by Makenna Tryon's double-double with 14 kills and 10 digs, but the Lions won the match 3-1.

Thursday is the second match this season against the Vaqueros with the Demons dropping the first match back on Oct. 2 3-0. NSU finished the match with a conference season low of 19 kills as UTRGV won the match 25-12, 25-17 and 25-12.

The Demons are led by senior Deja Benjamin with 200 kills on the season. The Houston native is averaging 2.2 kills per set for the season. Junior Jade Longlad is second in the Southland Conference with 47 aces behind UTRGV's Isabella Constantini with 49.

Constantini leads the Vaqueros as she also leads the league in assists per set (10.52). The two-time Southland Setter of the Week, Constantini had 34 assists against the Demons when the teams met on Oct. 2.

NSU enters Thursday with just two matches remaining before wrapping up the season Saturday at 1 p.m. against the Texas A&M Corpus Christi Islanders (10-16, 6-8 SLC)