NATCHITOCHES – The Northwestern State Demons' volleyball team begins its longest homestand of the season Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in Prather Coliseum when they take on the Southeastern Louisiana University Lions in the first of four straight home games.

The Demons (9-8, 1-1 SLC) will play the Lions (4-11, 1-1 SLC) Thursday before welcoming in LSU-New Orleans (2-13, 0-2 SLC) Saturday at 1 p.m. Next week, the Demons will host UT Rio Grande Valley (6-7, 2-0 SLC) Thursday, Oct. 8 at 6:30 p.m. before wrapping up the homestand Saturday, Oct. 10 at 1 p.m. against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (4-9, 2-0 SLC).

NSU enters the homestand winners of eight of their last 10 games despite Saturday's 3-1 loss at UIW (4-7, 2-0 SLC). The Demons are led by Elsie Sanchez with 180 kills, which is second most in the conference. The sophomore averages 3.27 kills per set, good enough for third in the league.

Senior Jade Longlad remains atop the Southland for the Demons in assists with 525. The Calgary, Alberta, Canada native is averaging 9.38 assists per. Last week's Southland Setter of the Week, Longlad is tied for 13^th in the country in total assists (950) with Kaci Johnson of Lindenwood College in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Emmarie McFarland continues to lead the league in digs with 304. The Demons' sophomore has averaged 4.98 digs per set and has had at least 10 digs in all 17 matches this season.

Freshman Olivia Nzioki is second in the conference in total blocks at 53 (0.98 blocks per set). The Shawnee, Kansas native has also been a viable option offensive for Demon head coach Ben Kaszeta. Nzioki is averaging 12.4 kills per match and 3.6 kills per set in her last nine matches with 169 kills for the season.

The Lions, under second-year head coach Lee McBride, are coming off a five-set win Saturday afternoon at 15-6 in the fifth set. SLU's 4-11 record is a little deceptive as they have losses to LSU and Ole Miss out of the SEC, UNLV, two to UL Lafayette and one to reigning Southland champion Stephen F. Austin.

Southeastern is led by senior and three-time All-Southland selection Kyra McKelvey with 180 kills tied with Sanchez but 3.21 kills per set is slightly behind Sanchez.

"McKelvey is special," said Demon head coach Ben Kaszeta. "She can take over a game in some ways and win it. She is someone we have to keep an eye on. It's a well-coached team as well. McBride has won the conference and was coach of the year when he was at McNeese. So, it's going to be a good test, but we will be ready."

Historically, the Lions lead the all-time series 34-31 but the Demons are 19-12 at Prather Coliseum against SLU. However, Southeastern has won the last three matches of the series including the last one at NSU in 2024, 3-0.

Fans can watch Thursday's match on ESPN+ as Patrick Netherton and Caley Carter will have the call. Live stats are available at NSUDemons.com while live updates will be available @NSUDemonsVB.

Thursday's match is also a Fork Cancer match. Those who wish to donate to the cause of helping NSU and the American Cancer Society with its fight against cancer can do so at the following link: poseys.chipply.com/nsuforkcancer26/.