HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University volleyball team looks to achieve something it has not done since 1996, hit the 20-win mark on the season while at the same time picking up a tenth win in conference play for the first time since 2002, with three opportunities to hit those numbers this week, starting Tuesday night in Natchitoches.
 
Kailin Newsome continues to swing well for Southeastern, raising her kills per set average to just over 4.0, making her the only player in the Southland to currently hold that number. Her 327 kills on the year puts her just 61 kills shy of joining teammate Cicily Hidalgo among the top-ten for kills in SLU program history. Hidalgo's 412 kills last season currently sits seventh-highest in program history while Mandy Withrow's 388 kills from the 1999 season currently places tenth-highest.
 
Starting the week just one game back in the standings of the conference co-leaders, Houston Christian and McNeese, and riding the wave of a four-match win streak, the Lady Lions (19-6, 9-4 SLC) open the three-match week on Tuesday night in Natchitoches, putting their four-match win streak on the line against Northwestern State. SLU looks to complete a season sweep of the Lady Demons (13-11, 6-7 SLC) after knocking off NSU in straight sets in the University Center back on Sept. 15^th.
 
NSU has dropped their last two matches. They are led on the season by Breanna Burrell, who is averaging 2.77 kills per set this season. Symone Wesley averages 2.17 kills per set as the other major offensive threat for the Lady Demons. Opening serve of Tuesday's match against the Northwestern State is set for 6:30 P.M. in Prather Coliseum and will be live streaming on the NSU athletics webpage.
 
On Thursday night, the Lady Lions head over to Beaumont, Texas looking to finish another season sweep, this one of Lamar. Southeastern downed the Cardinals (8-16, 2-11 SLC) in four sets back on Oct. 6^th in the University Center.
 
Lamar has dropped three-straight heading into Tuesday night's action. The Cardinals are led by Kaitlyn Gil, who is averaging 3.39 kills per set. Paige Dugan is Lamar's other top attacker, averaging 3.04 kills per set. Opening serve of Thursday's match at Lamar is currently set for 6:00 P.M. in McDonald Gym.
 
The final match of the week sees Southeastern return home on Saturday, where the Lady Lions are the last team in the Southland to have successfully defended its floor each time out, now at 10-0 this season and have won 11 straight in Hammond. Texas A&M-Commerce (10-17, 6-7 SLC) comes to town in a battle of the Lions as SLU looks to even the season series after dropping the match in Commerce in straight sets.
 
TAMUC ended a three-game skid last Saturday by defeating Incarnate Word, prior to the start of this week's action. Maddy Rashford and Reese Fetty both average 2.54 kills per set to lead the Lions of Commerce offensively. Saturday's battle of the Lions is set for 1:00 P.M. in the University Center.
 
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.