BROOKINGS, S.D. – The Southeastern Louisiana University volleyball team forced five sets twice Friday, ultimately falling to both host South Dakota State, 25-19, 20-25, 21-25, 25-14, 15-9, and Drake, 22-25, 25-20, 25-18, 21-25, 15-7, at Frost Arena in the Jackrabbit Invitational presented by the Super 8 of Brookings.
 
It was the first time Southeastern (0-9) faced either SDSU (7-2) or Drake (4-3) in program history.
 
SLU wraps up its participation in the Jackrabbit Invitational with an 11 a.m. match against Idaho (2-5) Jackrabbit Invitational. A video stream and live stats will be provided. Links to both are available on the volleyball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
 
MATCH ONE – SDSU 3, SLU 2
One of four Lady Lion attackers to reach double figures, Karlee Wilkerson led Southeastern with 15 kills in a match that featured quite a bit of offense. The senior from Springfield, Louisiana tallied double-digit kills for the third time this season.
 
SDSU (7-2) hit .500 in the opening set and .289 for the match. Southeastern hit better than .200 in each of the first three sets before cooling off down the stretch. The teams also combined for 25 total blocks with the Lady Lions responsible for nine.
 
Crispin Adams and Cicily Hidalgo added 12 kills each for SLU and Hannah Brewer chipped in 10 more. Hidalgo, a freshman from Opelousas, Louisiana, picked up half of her kills in the third set, helping the Lady Lions go up 2-1 in the match. She also had a hand in a team-high four blocks.
 
Gracie Duplechein, a freshman setter from St. Amant, Louisiana, record her fourth double-double of the season, handing out a career-high 46 assists to go along with 12 digs. Sophomore libero Ansley Tullis led the squad with 17 digs.
 
MATCH TWO – Drake 3, SLU 2
Hidalgo led all players with 23 kills, establishing a career-high on the way to her third double-double of the season (10 digs). Wilkerson contributed an additional 14 kills for the Lady Lions.
 
Duplechein dished out another 43 assists in the nightcap.
 
Southeastern's offensive execution varied through the match, hitting .267 and .262 on its way to winning the first and fourth sets but posting a negative attack percentage (-.045) in the contest's final set.
 
Adams and Wilkerson each had a hand in one five of the Lady Lions' 11 total blocks. Tullis once again paced the team in digs (21), joining both Cicily and Jolie Hidalgo (11) in double figures.
 
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.
 
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.