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The Southeastern Louisiana University volleyball team, led by senior Karlee Wilkerson in her final home match, swept past Northwestern State in straight sets Thursday, 25-12, 25-19, 26-24, in Southland Conference action at the University Center.

SLU (9-17, 7-7 SLC) clinched the No. 4 seed and a first-round bye in the 2021 Southland Conference Volleyball Tournament. Northwestern State (10-18, 4-9 SLC), which plays Saturday at home against Nicholls (10-15, 3-10 SLC), will either be the No. 6 or No. 7 seed.

The Lady Lions dominated early, building a match-high 15-point lead in the opening set thanks to six service aces, including a career-high four from freshman setter Gracie Duplechein.

A native of Springfield, Louisiana, Wilkerson enjoyed her best set of the evening in the second with five of her match-high 12 kills and a .444 attack percentage. In the final set, Wilkerson and Addie Vidrine contributed four kills apiece.

Joining Wilkerson with double-digit kills were Vidrine (10) and Southland kills leader Cicily Hidalgo (10). A freshman from Opelousas, Louisiana, Hidalgo moved into ninth place on Southeastern’s single-season kills list, bypassing Mandy Withrow (388, 1999). With 397 this season, she now sits one behind Angel Mauterer (398, 1997) who ranks eighth.

Ariana Hebert (25 assists) and Duplechein (15 assists) shared setting duties. Sophomore Calli Collins led all players with 15 digs.

UP NEXT

Scheduled for Nov. 18-21 in Houston, Texas, the Southland Tournament will be held at Sharp Gym on the campus of HBU. All eight Southland teams will participate in the single-elimination event.

SLU will match up with the winner of Wednesday’s first-round contest between No. 5-seeded UIW and No. 8-seeded New Orleans at 2:30 p.m. Thursday 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
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.