HAMMOND, La. – Returning home from a Southland Conference road swing, the Southeastern Louisiana volleyball team opens a six-match homestand with contests against Abilene Christian and the University of the Incarnate Word.

First serve against ACU (5-12, 1-8 Southland) is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday. Southeastern (7-16, 1-10 Southland) will also host Incarnate Word (9-9, 4-5 Southland) at 2 p.m. Saturday, prior to the homecoming football game against Lamar. A volleyball alumni reunion will be held in conjunction with the homecoming festivities.

Fans can watch both matches live on LionVision, Southeastern's subscription-based video stream, or follow live statistics. Links for both are available on the volleyball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.

The Lady Lion offense is led by Tiffany Thomas (2.93 kills per set), Rachael Bunn (.321 attack percentage) and Mikayla Shippy (9.19 assists per set). Bunn is third in the Southland in attack percentage. Shippy is sixth in assists.

Veronica Turk (0.96 blocks per set), Bunn (0.77 b/set), Landry Bullock (0.76 b/set), Shelby Devlin (0.75 b/set) and Morgan Todd (4.29 digs per set) lead one of the best defenses in the Southland. Southeastern is fifth in the conference in blocks (2.03/set) while holding opponents to a .185 hitting percentage. Todd is sixth in digs.

Southeastern dropped a four-set decision at Sam Houston State this past Saturday. In the last match for both of the Lady Lions' upcoming opponents, ACU dropped a match in straight sets to Incarnate Word.

Jennifer Loerch (3.23 k/set) and Sarah Siemens (8.40 a/set) pace the Wildcat offensive attack. Lexi Merceier (1.56 b/set) and Madison Hoover (4.51 d/set) are the key defenders. ACU freshman outside hitter Dorothy Swanson has a small connection to Southeastern as her great-grandfather A.L. "Red" Swanson was head football coach of the Lions from 1931-1937.

Angelique Vidaurri (3.11 k/set), Shaina Garza (2.77 k/set), Danielle Suarez (5.74 a/set) and Taylor McClelland (4.49 a/set) are the offensive catalysts for UIW. Meaghan Patterson (0.98 b/set), Sarah Cardenas (3.69 d/set) and Brittani Dear (3.40 d/set) anchor the Cardinals' defense.


Alumni Reunion Scheduled
Southeastern's annual volleyball alumni reunion is scheduled for Oct. 26-27, the same weekend as homecoming.

A reception will be held at 12:30 p.m., Oct. 26,  in the University Center prior to the 2 p.m. volleyball match against Southland-newcomer Incarnate Word. All attendees will be introduced to the fans between the second and third sets of the match. A legends volleyball match is slated for the morning of Oct. 27 in the University Center.

For more details on the volleyball reunion, or to RSVP, contact athletic alumni coordinator Larry Hymel at Lhymel@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-3228.