HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana University volleyball team returns to Southland Conference action for a pair of matches beginning Thursday when it plays host to McNeese State in a 7 p.m. contest at the University Center.

After facing McNeese State (5-9, 0-1 Southland) in its league home opener, Southeastern (8-9, 0-1 Southland) will face Lamar (5-7, 1-0 Southland) in a 1 p.m. match on Saturday. Admission to all Southeastern volleyball matches is free with fans asked to enter the University Center at the lower level of Gate 3.

Southeastern looks to snap a season-high three-match losing streak, including a four-set loss at Nicholls last Friday in its Southland Conference opener. The Lady Lions closed out the weekend with losses to Louisiana Tech and Houston in the Nicholls Challenge in falling below .500 for the first time this season.

Senior Allison Jones leads Southeastern in kills per set (2.47) with sophomores Courtney Donald (2.09) and Taylor Buckner (2.02) next. Freshman Stephanie Mueller has paced the Lady Lions in hitting percentage (.226) followed by Donald (.225) and junior Paige Dollison (.174).

Directing the Southeastern offense, freshman Lindsey Young has averaged 7.97 assists per set to lead the Lady Lions with Arianne Cruckshank next at 7.64. Cruckshank, who has 1,150 assists in her career, enters the weekend needing 42 to pass Suzanne Negrotto for seventh-place in school history.

Chelsea Barr (3.40) and Alex Greer (3.33) lead Southeastern in digs per set with Dollison following at 2.00.

McNeese State snapped a three-match losing streak as it earned a three-set win over UNO on Tuesday. The Cowgirls opened Southland Conference play with a three-set loss to Lamar before falling to Albany and Louisiana-Lafayette.

Priscilla Massengale leads McNeese State with 3.00 kills per set followed by Erin Huckaby (2.33) and Taylor Bustamento (2.23). Becky Bekelja is third in the Southland Conference in assists per set (9.44) while Whitney Ellisor is sixth in digs per set (3.96)

Lamar took two of three matches last weekend at its own tournament, falling in straight sets to Albany for the championship. The Cardinals, who have dropped four of their last six matches, have earned wins over St. Francis (Pa.), Siena, Cornell, McNeese State and UL-Lafayette.

Jayme Bazile leads Lamar at the net with 3.00 kills per set and a .343 hitting percentage. Alex Morford (8.12) and Kaylee Platt (7.09) pace LU in assists per set while Bailey Smith leads the Cardinals with 3.02 digs per set.