NATCHITOCHES, Louisiana — The HCU volleyball team is gearing up for a Thursday matchup against Northwestern State, set for Oct. 31 at 6:30 p.m. in Natchitoches. This pivotal game kicks off the final stretch of regular season play, with only six matches remaining before the Southland Conference Tournament, which begins on Nov. 21.
HCU has shown resilience throughout the season with a blend of strong wins and challenging losses in Southland Conference play. They opened conference play with back-to-back 3-1 victories over Nicholls and Texas A&M - Corpus Christi, demonstrating strong teamwork and consistency. Despite this early momentum, they encountered a rough patch with losses to Stephen F. Austin, UT Rio Grande Valley, and a tight five-setter against Incarnate Word. Bouncing back, the Huskies claimed a close 3-2 victory over Lamar and a solid 3-1 win over McNeese before recent setbacks against Southeastern and Texas A&M - Commerce underscored the challenges of the conference.
Audrey Pearce has anchored both the offense and defense, leading the Huskies with 236 kills and 96 blocks. Setter Grace McLaughlin has kept the offense moving with 771 assists and also contributed defensively with 222 digs. Tatiana Evans leads in digs with 310, strengthening HCU's back row, while Bianca Byerly tops the serving leaderboard with 27 aces. Key contributors like Emerald Jacobs, with 189 kills, and Ana Garza, with 43 blocks, round out a well-balanced roster.
Northwestern State, on the other hand, has faced a challenging season in conference play, with only one conference win. The Lady Demons started strong with a 3-0 sweep over Nicholls but struggled to maintain that momentum in subsequent matches, falling to teams like Texas A&M - Commerce, Incarnate Word, and Stephen F. Austin. Despite competitive efforts, the Lady Demons have encountered tough home and away matchups, showing just how fierce this season's Southland Conference has been.
Standout player Reaghan Thompson leads Northwestern State with 208 kills, playing a key role across the court. Teresa Garza follows with 197 kills and also ranks among the leaders in service aces (15) and digs (187), demonstrating her versatility. Setter Gabby Seeds has recorded 457 assists, while Deja Benjamin leads in blocks with 82. Ashlyn Svoboda, who tops the team in digs with 238, adds stability to Northwestern's defense.
