NATCHITOCHES, La. – Jade Longlad had a season-high 30 assists but it wasn't enough for the Northwestern State Demons' volleyball team to overcome a couple of terrible breaks in a 3-0 loss to the East Texas A&M Lions (25-17, 25-23 and 25-21) Thursday night in Southland Conference play at Prather Coliseum.

The Demons (1-26, 0-13 SLC) showed from the beginning of the match that the Lions (8-16, 6-7 SLC) were going to have to work all night long. Olivia Bush's kill followed by an attack error by the Lions gave NSU a 10-9 first set lead. However, East Texas A&M went on a 10-3 run to take a 19-13 advantage as they went on to take the opening set.

The Demons never blinked as they came out in the second set ready to compete. The Lions and Demons went back and forth in the set with seven ties. NSU appeared to have East Texas A&M on the ropes as back-to-back kills by Bush gave the Demons a 21-20 lead. However, the Demons caught a terrible break as Reagan Hamm appeared to have an ace. The ball hit the baseline official's foot and was ruled out of bounds tying the match at 22-22. The Lions won the next two points before Gracie Campbell's kill clinched the set 25-23.

In the third set, the Demons still didn't give up. NSU had a 14-12 advantage after three straight kills by Bush. After the Lions took a 17-16 lead, the match was tied after a Lions' attack error. The Demons trailed 21-18 and appeared to have another chance to steal the set as Deja Benjamin's kill had the Demons within striking distance.

However, after replay, it was ruled the Benjamin's kill went out of bounds and wasn't tipped as initially ruled giving the Lions a 22-18. ETAMU put some distance between themselves and the Demons, 24-20 before Campbell's kill secured the match.

"The fact that we can play with that kind of passion is awesome," said Demon head coach Ben Kaszeta. "I love that we play with this kind of grit game in and game out. We just are young and learning how to make the big plays when we need to make them."

NSU was led by Benjamin with 13 kills while Bush finished with 10. Longlad's 30 assists helped pace the offense while Emmarie McFarland had 14 digs. Campbell finished with a game-high 18 kills to lead the Lions.

The Demons finished with 46 digs to 42 for the Lions while NSU had five aces to four for ETAMU. The Lions had 43 kills to 38 for the Demons.

The Demons and Lions will face off again Saturday morning at 11 a.m. in Commerce, Texas.