LAKE CHARLES—The McNeese volleyball team will open Southland Conference play this week with a 7 p.m. match Thursday at Northwestern State (2-11). The Cowgirls will remain on the road for a 1 p.m. match at Stephen F. Austin Saturday.
 
McNeese (3-10) snapped a three-match losing streak with a 3-1 home win over Jackson State Tuesday. The Cowgirls were picked to finish ninth by the coaches and 11th by the Sports Information Directors in the preseason polls.
 
Northwestern State, who is coming off its first Southland Conference title and NCAA berth, were picked fifth and sixth in the preseason polls. The Lady Demons are under the direction of first year head coach Sean Kiracofe.
 
Senior Malina Sanchez will lead McNeese into the weekend with 100 kills for an average of 2.08 per set while freshman Monica Hudgins has a .256 hitting percent.  Setter Kelly Graham who ranks fifth on the all-time career assists list, now has 420 assists on the season and is averaging 8.57 per set.  Graham is also third on the team with 103 digs.  Junior libero Bridget Justis continues to pace the Cowgirls with 187 digs for an average of 3.82 per set. 
 
At the net, Hudgins leads the Cowgirls with 39, 37 of those being assisted blocks. Graham and Rae Myers both have 17 blocks apiece. Behind the service line, Graham and Justis both have 13 service aces and Sanchez has 11.
 
McNeese will travel to preseason favorite Stephen F. Austin Saturday in a game that will be televised on ESPN3. The Ladyjacks (7-8) will take on Nicholls Thursday prior to Saturday's match against the Cowgirls. SFA enters Thursday's conference opener undefeated at home with a 4-0 record this season.
 
Links to live stats and video for all Cowgirl matches can be found on mcneesesports.com.