NATCHITOCHES, La. – The Northwestern State Demons' volleyball team opens Southland Conference play Thursday night at home in Prather Coliseum against the University of Incarnate Word Cardinals at 6:30 p.m.

The Demons (1-13) are playing just their second home game under first-year head coach Ben Kaszeta following six straight road games in the Golden Eagle Classic this past weekend and the UNT-UTA Invitational Sept 12-13.

Despite the losses at the Golden Eagle Classic, Samaya Wesson was named to the All-Tournament team with 20 kills and two aces combined. Wesson had 10 kills against Southern Miss, seven against Grambling and three against Jackson State to tab the tournament honors. The junior is also third in the Southland Conference with 45 blocks after six this weekend.

Jade Longlad leads the Southland in aces with 29 after recording seven against Grambling Saturday. The seven aces were a conference high mark this season.  Reagan Hamm is fourth in the league with 21 aces. The Demons now lead the conference in aces with 89 while Nichols (10-3) is second with 70.

Junior Olivia Bush returned from a knee injury after missing the team's first 11 games as she had 12 kills for the week in her return.

"Olivia was a shining moment of very few last weekend," said Kaszeta. "When we learn how to put pressure on the other side of the net, good things will happen. But we have lots to focus on this week before conference starts."

The Cardinals (4-8), under third year head coach Gabby Ording, enter Thursday's matchup led by Kyla Malone 112 kills for the season. The senior also has recorded three double doubles this year. UIW's Kade Thomas is second in the Southland Conference in hitting percentage at .333 behind Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's Tatum Mason at .342.

The Cardinals have defeated the Demons three straight matches, but NSU leads the all-time series 14-6 and 9-2 all-time at Prather Coliseum.