HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University volleyball team continues its 12-match, month-long road trip this weekend with a tough four-match stretch that includes two matches against power five schools and a team receiving votes in the AVCA Top 25 as the Lady Lions head to the Texas State Bobcat Classic for three contests before finishing the weekend with a trip to Baton Rouge for a date with LSU.
 
Southeastern (3-2) is looking to extend its first win streak of the season after winning both of its matches in the Central Arkansas Invitational last weekend. Kailin Newsome was back on the attack for SLU as she had a team-high 24 kills in the two contests at UCA. Cicily Hidalgo added 21 kills on a .283 hitting percentage while Rachel Hartmann had 20 kills on a team-best .320 attack percentage, blocked six opposing attacks, had three service aces, and 26 digs.
 
Newsome continues to lead the attack on the year for the Lady Lions and looks to hit a personal milestone this weekend as she enters it with 961 career kills, 39 short of hitting 1,000 career kills. She has 64 kills this season, averaging 3.37 kills per set, and 69 total points scored this year, all three leading Southeastern this season.
 
Hartmann is the lone other Lady Lion over 60 total points on the year through five matches as she's scored 62.5 on the strength of 49 total kills, a 2.58 kill per set average on a .330 attack percentage, a team-high nine service aces, and nine total blocks. She's also second on the team in assists, averaging 2.21 assists per set, and third on the team in digs, averaging 2.74 per set.
 
Hidalgo has 50 kills for a 2.63 kill per set average on a .281 attack percentage to go with four service aces and eight total blocks on the year. Jacqueline Arrington and Hannah Brewer are doing the work at the net with 13 and 11 total blocks, respectively. Gracie Duplechein, who is already inside the SLU top-10 for career assists, is currently averaging 7.32 assists per set this season after a weekend in Arkansas where she averaged 9.63 assists in the eight sets played at Central Arkansas. Duplechein also has eight service aces, just one off Hartmann's team lead on the year.
 
Southeastern kicks off their weekend on Thursday night with a match-up against the Bobcat Classic hosts, Texas State. The Bobcats (4-1) started receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches' Association (AVCA) Top 25 poll this week after going 2-0 at home last weekend, including a straight-sets win over then-#13 Houston. Texas State's attack is led by KJ Johnson, who is averaging 3.94 kills per set on a .369 attack percentage while also helping block seven opposing attacks and contributing two service aces. Samantha Wunsch averages 2.71 kills per set on a .267 attack percentage and leads the team with 15 total blocks. Bailey Hanner has eight service aces to lead the team. Jade Defraeye and Sophie Childs have 12 total blocks each to join Wunsch in double digits in that category. The Bobcats hit .317 as a team and get 12.71 kills per set.
 
Day two of the Bobcat Classic sees SLU play its first match against a power-five team on the weekend with a date against Cal. The Golden Bears (5-0) start their week a day earlier as they take on St. Mary's on Wednesday night before heading down to Texas. Cal is led on offense by Maggie Li, who is averaging 3.94 kills per set on a .320 hitting percentage while also leading the team in with 11 service aces on the year. Sam Taumoepeau averages 3.24 kills per set on a .192 attack percentage while having double digit aces as well with 10. Mikayla Hayden and Ellie Hamm do most of the work at the net for the Golden Bears with 16 and 11 total blocks on the year, respectively. Cal hits .256 as a team and averages 14.12 kills per set on the season.
 
SLU's final match in San Marcos sees the Lady Lions take on Abilene Christian. The Wildcats (5-2) have already seen two Southland Conference members this season, having knocked off Houston Christian in four sets as part of the Texas Tech Tournament while falling to Texas A&M-Commerce in five sets at home. ACU is currently riding a four-match win streak heading into the Bobcat Classic, having earned a season split against Texas Tech by knocking off the Red Raiders at home in four sets in their most recent contest. Ashli Edmiston leads the Wildcats on the attack with 3.32 kills per set on a .127 attack percentage. Braden Bossier, who has 69 total kills on a team-best .417 attack percentage, is one of three ACU players in double-digits in blocks on the season with 16. Breanna Box leads the Wildcats at the net with 21 total blocks while Emily Mekelburg has 13. On the serve, Sara Carrizales leads ACU with 14 aces while Abby Christian has 10 service aces on the year.
 
After having Saturday off to return from San Marcos, the Lady Lions make the hour drive to Baton Rouge on Sunday for a date with LSU for Southeastern's second battle with a power-five team on the weekend. The Tigers (3-3) have won their last two matches following a three-match losing streak, most recently knocking off Louisiana-Lafayette in four sets on Wednesday afternoon. LSU is led by Jurnee Robinson who is averaging 4.17 kills per set on a .288 attack percentage and has tallied 112.5 points through six matches, aided by 14 total blocks and four service aces. Robinson is just one if five Tigers with double-digit blocks in this early season, led by Anita Anwusi with 17, Jade Demps joins Robinson with 14, Alia Williams has 11, and Angie Lee has 10 total blocks on the year. Erin Carmichael has 10 service aces to pace LSU on the serve.
 
SLU's weekend schedule starts on Thursday night with the match against (RV) Texas State set for 6:00 p.m., Southeastern's lone match of the Bobcat Classic which will be live streamed on ESPN+. Friday's two matches, the 10:00 a.m. contest against Cal and the 3:00 p.m. match-up with Abilene Christian, will not be live streams and will only have live stats provided. All matches of the Bobcat Classic will be played at Texas State's Strahan Center at the University Events Center. Sunday's match against LSU is set for 2:00 p.m. from the Pete Maravich Assembly Center and it will be live streamed on the SEC Network+.
 
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.