LAKE CHARLES—Playing its first home match of the season after being on the road for their first 15 matches of the season will be a welcoming sight for the McNeese volleyball team.
 
McNeese (4-11) will host Northwestern State (5-10) in not only its first home match of the season but also its Southland Conference opener Thursday night at 7 p.m. in Memorial Gym. The Cowgirls will remain home to host Central Arkansas at 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Admission to all home matches is free courtesy of the Lake Charles American Press. Live streaming and live stats will be available for all home matches. Both links can be found on the volleyball schedule page on mcneesesports.com.
 
The Cowgirls have been looking forward to playing in front of their home crowd after being away for nearly one month.
 
During the first month of the season, McNeese took part in four tournaments and went up against teams from eight different conferences. The Cowgirls went to a deciding fifth set in six matches. Four of their last six matches have gone to a fifth set and the Cowgirls are coming off a fifth set win over Bethune-Cookman last weekend at the Georgia Bulldog Invitational.
 
This young and inexperienced Cowgirl squad has shown improvements since the season began and continues to improve each match. Several individuals have shined throughout the season and have put up big numbers individually.
 
Freshman Keegan Nelms has led the Cowgirls in kill all season long and has 149 to her credit. She is averaging 2.44 kills per set and is third on the team with 153.
 
Junior Rae Myers, who single handedly took control of the UL-Lafayette match to help the Cowgirls win that match, is second in kills with 110 for an average on 2.50. Myers is tied for a team high eight service aces.
 
Junior Jenny D'Alessandro and freshman Katelyn Elliott have picked up their game of late. D'Alessandro, who recorded a career high 22 kills against South Alabama last Friday, has 107 kills and leads the Cowgirls with 30 blocks. Elliott is making the most of her playing time in replace of the injured senior Rebecca Korenek. Elliott has 105 kills and is coming off a weekend that saw her better her career high in kills in each match, posting a career high 24 against Bethune-Cookman.
 
The back row has been steady with the play of senior libero Bridget Justis, junior Adison Giambrone and freshman Angela McGownd. Justis is averaging 4.13 digs per set and is tied with Myers with eight service aces. Giambrone is coming off one of her best defensive weekends after picking up double figure digs in all three matches and 20 or more in two matches. She set a career high with 24 against Georgia last Saturday.  
 
Sophomore Alexandra Aguilera has adapted to the setter position very well and has dished out 10 or more assists in 14 of the 15 matches and is coming off a weekend where she recorded over 60 assists in two of the three matches played. She recorded a career high 65 assists against South Alabama on Friday then has 61 against Bethune-Cookman to close out the weekend. 
 
The Lady Demons will look to snap a four match losing streak after falling to Southern Miss, Louisiana Tech, Tulsa and Oral Roberts in their last four matches.
 
One common opponent both McNeese and Northwestern State has wins over this season is UL-Lafayette. The Cowgirls defeated the Cajuns 3-1 on Sept. 6 while Northwestern State picked up a 3-2 win on Aug. 30. Both matches were played in Lafayette.