HAMMOND, La. – After closing non-conference competition over the weekend, the Southeastern Louisiana University Volleyball team is set to kick off the Southland Conference slate this week, with visits to Stephen F. Austin and Lamar, Thursday and Saturday.
 
The Lions (3-10) will begin SLC play Thursday at 6 p.m., when SLU takes on SFA (6-7) in Nacogdoches, Texas. Then, SLU will travel to Beaumont, Texas, to face Lamar (3-10), Saturday at 1 p.m. Both of Southeastern's matches will be televised on ESPN+.
 
Through 13 matches, Kyra McKelvey remains SLU's leading attacker with team-best marks in total kills (151) and kills per set (3.15). Entering the SLC season, McKelvey's 3.15 kills-per-set mark is ranked sixth among all Southland student-athletes. Setter Ashley Richardson has maintained her standing among the top setters in the SLC. The junior owns a mark of 8.12 assists per set, the fourth-best average in the league.
 
Freshman Brea Payne started at setter in SLU's last three matchups, totaling 70 assists along the way. Her 33 assists against UC Irvine were a season high. In the team's matchup against UCI, Melina Gonzalez notched a team-leading 17 digs to earn a season high. Keira Beverly and Ainsley Driska own top 10 averages in the SLC in blocks per set, with each totaling 29 blocks. Beverly's average of 0.83 blocks per set places her seventh in the league, while Driska's 0.81 average is ninth in the SLC.
 
Stephen F. Austin, the 2025 SLC Champions, will host SLU for the team's first conference match. SFA's Katherine Holtman is coming off a strong week, winning the SLC Offensive Player of the Week Award. Kyanna Creecy has been one of the top middle blockers in the league, ranking fourth in the SLC in blocks per set (0.98), totaling 41 rejections. The Ladyjacks won two of their last three matches, defeating Prairie View A&M, 3-0, and Louisiana Tech, 3-1.
 
Like McKelvey, Lamar's Maja Malinowska has been one of the better attackers in the conference this season. Carrying a 3.13 kills-per-set average, Malinowska has been the most consistent hitter on the team, recording double-digit kills in seven of the team's 13 matches. Defensively, Saida Maksoud has been one of the best middle blockers in the SLC in 2026. Maksoud's 1.09 blocks per set leads the conference. Gabby Baker leads the team with 175 total digs, placing seventh in the SLC. The Cardinals lost their last three matches against North Dakota, UL Monroe, and Sam Houston, having hosted the Lamar Invitational last weekend.
 
Next week, the Lions will remain on the road to start October. SLU will battle Northwestern State in Natchitoches, La., on Thursday, Oct. 1. Southeastern will end its road slate when the Lions face off with East Texas A&M in Commerce, Texas. Next week's contests will be available to watch on ESPN+.
 
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
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