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The Southeastern Louisiana University volleyball team returns to Southland Conference play this week, hosting both Nicholls and New Orleans at the University Center.

Tied for second place in the conference standings, SLU (7-12, 5-2 SLC) faces Nicholls (8-11, 1-6 SLC) at 6:30 p.m. Thursday and UNO (1-14, 1-6 SLC) at 1 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free to all home matches this season and fans are asked to enter the arena upstairs at Gate 3.

Southeastern Athletics will celebrate Halloween early in conjunction with Thursday’s match, as fans are encouraged to wear their best Halloween costumes.

Live stats are available for both matches while Thursday’s game against the Colonels will stream on ESPN+. Media links can be found on the volleyball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.

SLU freshman Cicily Hidalgo, an outside hitter from Opelousas, Louisiana, leads the Southland Conference in total kills (315), kills per set (3.99), points (339.0), points per set (4.29), total attacks (876) and attacks per set (11.09).

Other key personnel driving the SLU offensive attack are Karlee Wilkerson (2.49 k/set), a senior from Springfield, Louisiana, Addie Vidrine (1.87 k/set), a junior from Lafayette, Louisiana, and middle blocker Crispin Adams (1.80 k/set), a preseason All-Conference selection from Brookshire, Texas.

Gracie Duplechein (7.67 a/set), a freshman from St. Amant, Louisiana, currently ranks second in the conference in total assists (606).

Hannah Brewer, a freshman from Benton, Arkansas, ranks ninth in blocks (0.89 b/set) while Ansley Tullis, a sophomore libero from Slidell, leads the team with 4.10 digs per set and ranks seventh in the Southland.

The Lady Lions face both opponents for the second time in as many weeks. SLU defeated Nicholls in four sets this past Thursday and swept the Privateers in three sets Saturday in the Crescent City.

Nicholls is led by Emily Gauthreaux, Aaliyah Burras, Lilly Bivens and Kylie Lockhart. Gauthreaux ranks fifth in the Southland in kills (2.95 k/set) and Burras ranks fifth in attack percentage (.299). Bivens ranks sixth in assists (7.43 a/set) and Lockhart ranks sixth in digs (4.29 d/set).

UNO enters the week with three blockers ranked in the conference’s Top 10, Sh’Diamond Holly (1.05 d/set), Maxine Walsh (0.97 b/set) and Atira Jells (0.93 b/set). Holly also ranks third in the Southland with a .319 attack percentage.

UP NEXT

Following Saturday’s contest, Southeastern heads back out on the road for a pair of matches at McNeese and HBU before returning home to wrap up the regular season with matches against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, UIW and Northwestern State.

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.