HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana opens Southland Conference volleyball competition with a pair of matches, Thursday at McNeese and Friday at Lamar.
 
The McNeese (0-0) match is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday at S.P. Arnett Middle School in Westlake, Louisiana while Friday's match at Lamar (0-6, 0-1 SLC), scheduled to be televised on ESPN+, is set for 6 p.m. in the Montagne Center.
 
Southeastern (2-1) is led Kailin Newsome, the reigning Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week, and Sam Gomez, a Preseason All-Southland Conference selection.
 
Newsome (4.54 k/set) earned the conference's weekly honor after recording 59 kills in three matches and helping lead the Lady Lions to a pair of non-conference wins at Tulane and Southern Miss. Gomez (2.00 /set) recorded 16 total blocks in the same span, earning an honorable mention for the Southland's weekly defensive award.
 
Ryan Maddera (2.08 k/set) and Karlee Wilkerson (2.00 k/set) join the duo as Southeastern's top attackers. Freshmen Calli Collins (6.69 a/set) and Ariana Hebert (3.92 a/set) share setting duties in the Lady Lions 6-2 system.
 
Gomez (1.23 b/set) and Crispin Adams (0.85 b/set) are the Lady Lions' top blocking threats while Ansley Tullis (4.31 d/set), Lizzy Low (2.85 d/set) and Newsome (2.00 d/set) are the squad's top defenders across the baseline.
 
Southeastern swept a pair of matches against McNeese last season, winning six of the seven sets. The Cowgirls will be playing their first match of the 2020-21 season Thursday.
 
McNeese returns seven players off a squad that finished the 2019 season 11-17 overall and 4-12 in conference matches. Key returners include Alexis Lambert (2.98 k/set), Caitlin Sharrock (5.48 a/set), Lauren Burt (0.98 b/set) and Madison Fontenot (2.12 d/set).
 
Due to limited seating and COVID guidelines, capacity for Thursday match against McNeese will be capped at 25 percent. Only those individuals on the pass list and McNeese students with a valid ID will be admitted. Admission will be free and donations will be welcomed to help rebuild McNeese.
 
Southeastern and Lamar have split their season series over the course of the past two years with the home team winning each match.
 
Kayla Neumann (2.56 k/set), Kaitlyn Gil (2.35 k/set), Reese Cummings (2.14 k/set) and Bre'Ala Box (2.10 k/set) are the Cardinals' top attackers. Hannah Waters (5.90 a/set) and Annika Slovak (3.33 a/set) share setting duties.
 
Box (0.55 b/set) is the only Lamar player with double-digit blocks, recording 11 total blocks so far this season. In her only match this season, Sam Swayze is averaging 5.50 digs per set.
 
UP NEXT
Southeastern opens the home portion of its schedule with three-consecutive matches at the University Center. The home opener, a conference match, is slated for Tuesday at 7 p.m. against in-state rival Nicholls. The Lady Lions will also host a non-conference match at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 11 against Louisiana Tech and another conference match Feb. 13 at 11 a.m. against Sam Houston.
 
LIONS GAMEDAY EXPERIENCE APP
The Lions Gameday Experience app puts audio, stats, video, social media and more in the hands of fans. Those in attendance can also check in to earn reward points redeemable for Southeastern-related prizes. Available for both Android and iOS devices, it can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play or by following the link www.LionSports.net/App.
 
DIGGIN' IT CLUB / S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the Southeastern volleyball program are encouraged to join the Diggin' It Club. Lion volleyball alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners.
 
All membership fees and donations to both the Diggin' It Club and S Club (volleyball) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern volleyball program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics enforces a clear bag policy for all ticketed events. The policy mirrors safety precautions required for entrance to professional and collegiate sporting venues throughout the country. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/Clear.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Lady Lions Volleyball, follow @LionUpVB or @JWhiteSLU on Twitter, @LionUpVB on Instagram, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.