While Northwestern State’s soccer team had a weekend off after plastering UAPB 24-1 Thursday night, one goal shy of tying an NCAA scoring record, it was a success-filled stretch for Demon volleyball and cross country.
VOLLEYBALL: NSU completed a 3-0 weekend Saturday and won its fourth straight match as it defeated the Grambling State Tigers 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 26-24 and 29-27) Saturday afternoon during the final day of the Louisiana Tech Bulldog Bash played at the Frederick C. Hobdy Assembly Center on the campus of GSU.
The Demons (5-6), who play host to Louisiana Tech Tuesday night at 6:30 in Prather Coliseum, preceded the Grambling victory with a 3-1 win (21-25, 29-27, 25-21 and 26-24) Friday over ULM and an earlier 3-0 sweep of Mississippi Valley State on Thursday.
Second-year NSU head coach Ben Kaszeta praised his team’s intangibles from players like Emmarie McFarland. The sophomore finished with 18 digs for 11th straight double-digit dig performance. But he was more impressed with her leadership. And his lone senior, Jade Longlad, is showing she can run his offense.
“Emmarie’s poise and passion led us well today,” said Kaszeta. “We played very hard and it paid off. I’m proud of this group. We’re learning about ourselves every second. Jade is running a pretty darn good offense. We are doing everything we can to stay present. One point at a time. They knew they were capable of it from practice. Today proved we are capable against a really good team.”
NSU won a hard-fought neutral court battle Friday against ULM.
“I love the resilience of this group,” said Kaszeta. “We’re learning how to get things done. We have a long way to go still, but this was definitely a step in the right direction. Three kids in double digits kills. That is huge for us. Monroe (ULM) has some great athletes. They tested us really well and we responded in great fashion. I’m proud of them.”
CROSS COUNTRY: In the lone home meet of the season Friday, Northwestern sophomore Andrew Kent recorded his first ever collegiate victory, highlighting a strong day at the NSU Demon Invitational.
Kent, from Haughton, recorded a 20:57.3 to win the meet in the 6K.
“It feels good to win the race,” Kent said. “I want to thank God for helping me through that race. It was definitely amazing to win the race on my home course. I’ve been doing this for a long time and for me to get my first collegiate win is surreal and I feel ecstatic.”
Louisiana Tech had the next five finishers before Kaden Elliott finished in seventh place with a personal-best time of 21:46.1, a half-minute improvement.
“I was very pleased with a lot of the kids’ performances,” head coach Alex Wills said. “Drew got his first collegiate win, which is big, so I was happy about that. And then Abby (Poche) getting second place in her second collegiate race ever; you can’t be upset with that either.”
To begin the day, Poche placed second on the women’s side in the 4K with a time of 16:20.8 to lead the Lady Demon runners. The freshman was the top runner for the NSU women for the second meet in as many races this season.
Peyton Pirie was second among the Lady Demons, running an 18:07.3 to place 11th, right in front of Andie Claire Woodhead, who finished 12th with a time of 18:09.7.