HAMMOND – The Southeastern volleyball team will look to get back on track this weekend, when it hosts a pair of Southland Conference rivals in the University Center.

Southeastern (6-14, 2-7 SLC) will open the week's action on Friday, hosting Southland Conference leader Central Arkansas (21-3, 10-0 SLC) at 7 p.m. Northwestern State (2-16, 1-9 SLC) comes to town on Saturday for a 7 p.m. contest. Live stats will be available for both contests at www.LionSports.net. Admission is free to all Southeastern home volleyball matches.

The Lady Lions head into the final three weeks of the season looking to move up the Southland Conference standings and earn a berth in the Southland Conference Tournament. After losing its last seven league contests, Southeastern would be on the outside looking in if the eight-team tournament field was set today.

Southeastern features a balanced offensive attack with junior Allison Jones (2.24 kills per set), senior Jessica Srajer (2.14), senior Lauren Mayer (1.96) and freshman Taylor Buckner (1.89) serving at the squad's top attackers. Sophomore Arianne Cruckshank has been the team's primary setter as the season has progressed, ranking ninth in the Southland with 7.98 assists per set. In matches against league opposition, Cruckshank is sixth in the league with an 8.92 assist per set average.

Junior Alex Greer has been the team's top defender averaging 3.81 assists per set (sixth in the Southland) including 4.19 digs per set in Southland play. Mayer (2.70), Cruckshank (2.32) and Buckner (2.11) are the team's other dig leaders. Senior Julie Elliott leads the team with 35 blocks, followed by freshman Alexis Braghini (34), freshman Courtney Donald (30) and Srajer (28). Elliott's 1.00 block per set average in league play is tied for eighth in the Southland Conference.

Central Arkansas comes to town as the league's premier teams. Individually, UCA features the Southland Conference leader in kills (Chloe Smith, 4.59), assists (Robyn Smith, 11.22), digs (Cristin Curl, 4.62) and hitting percentage (.355).

In the first meeting between the two teams, Central Arkansas handed Southeastern a 3-0 loss back on Oct. 3 in Conway, Ark. Donald and Srajer had seven kills each to lead the Lady Lions, but Chloe Smith countered with 17 kills to give the Bears the win.

Northwestern State's offense is paced by Yelena Enware (3.45 kills per set) and Megan Dockery (7.39 assists per set). Zanny Castillo (3.44 digs per set) and Enware (44 blocks) are the top defenders for the Lady Demons.

Southeastern won the first meeting between the two teams back on Oct. 1 in Natchitoches. Buckner had 18 kills and 15 digs to lead the Lady Lions to a thrilling five-set win.

This week's matches are the first two of five straight at home for the Lady Lions. Next week, Nicholls (Nov. 3), A&M-Corpus Christi (Nov. 6) and UTSA (Nov. 7) all visit the University Center to close out the Lady Lion home slate. Prior to the home finale versus UTSA, Srajer, Elliott, Mayer, Margaret Pittman and Katie Collins will be honored in a special Senior Day ceremony.