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The Southeastern Louisiana University volleyball team opens play in the 2021 Southland Conference Volleyball Tournament at 2:30 p.m. Friday in Sharp Gym on the campus of host institution HBU.

Following a first-round bye, No. 4-seeded SLU (9-17, 7-7 SLC) faces the winner of the Thursday matchup between No. 5-seeded UIW (11-17, 6-8 SLC) and No. 8-seeded UNO (1-21, 1-13 SLC). All matches in the tournament are available on ESPN+.

The Lady Lions snapped a four-match skid this past Thursday, sweeping past Northwestern State in straight sets to win their regular-season finale.

SLU is led by the Southland Conference Freshman of the Year, Cicily Hidalgo, and All-Conference honoree Karlee Wilkerson.

Hidalgo, an outside hitter from Opelousas, Louisiana, leads the Southland Conference in total kills (397), kills per set (3.82), points (432.5), points per set (4.16), total attacks (1175) and attacks per set (11.30). She is currently sixth in the Lady Lions’ single-season Top 10 for total attacks and ninth in total kills.

Wilkerson ranks second on the team in kills per set (2.33), attack percentage (.212) and total blocks (64). Her kills per set average ranks 12th in the Southland. A senior from Springfield, Louisiana, she also contributed 12 digs and a pair of assists.

Also averaging more than two full points per set are Addie Vidrine (1.91 k/set), a junior from Lafayette, Louisiana, and middle blocker Crispin Adams (1.77 k/set, 0.82 b/set), a junior from Brookshire, Texas.

Gracie Duplechein (6.94 a/set), a freshman from St. Amant, Louisiana, currently ranks third in the conference in total assists (722). She splits time with junior Ariana Hebert (3.57 a/set).

Freshmen Hannah Haerer (1.02 b/set) and Hannah Brewer (0.90 b/set) are the Lady Lions’ top blocking threats.

Calli Collins, a sophomore from Columbus, Texas, stepped into the libero role midseason and is currently tied for second in total digs (257) with Hidalgo.

UP NEXT

The winner of Thursday’s match will advance to face top-seeded Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (17-9, 13-1 SLC) Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Saturday’s winner will advance to the championship match at 2 p.m. Sunday. The tournament champion will receive the Southland’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

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.

TOURNAMENT TICKET INFO

Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for students ages 6 to high school, while children five and under receive free admission. Current students of any Southland Conference institution will receive free admission with a valid student ID. All pricing is per day and there are no team pass lists for conference championships.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Thursday, Nov. 18
Match 1: #7 Nicholls vs. #6 Northwestern State – Noon
Match 2: #8 New Orleans vs. #5 UIW – 2:30 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 19
Match 3: Winner Match 1 vs. #3 McNeese – Noon
Match 4: Winner Match 2 vs. #4 Southeastern – 2:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 20
Match 5: Winner Match 3 at #2 HBU – Noon
Match 6: Winner Match 4 vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi – 2:30 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 21
Championship: Winner Match 5 vs. Winner Match 6 – 2 p.m.