Sept. 11, 2007

Box Score

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - After getting out to a cold start in their match against Southern Miss, the Colonels volleyball team battled back in the third set; but taking the Golden Eagles to the limit in the fourth wouldn't be enough to extend the game to a fifth as USM defeated Nicholls 30-17, 30-19, 29-31, 31-29 in Hattiesburg.

Before the third set, Nicholls (2-10) hit below .100 percent, but picked up offensively in the third and fourth set, although USM (4-7) would go on to outhit the Colonels .220 to .100. "We couldn't get our game going in the first two sets, and they kept us off balance," head coach Chris Laird said.

The Golden Eagles got in a rhythm early, dominating the Colonels from the start, cruising to the first set victory. The second set was much like the first, as Nicholls tied USM at 3-3, then trailed the rest of the set before losing 30-19.

After the break, the Colonels emerged from the locker room a different team, turning the tables on USM, taking the game from the Golden Eagles 31-29.

With the confidence from winning the fourth set, Nicholls came out with the same intensity for the fifth, keeping pace with USM for the entire match. But toward the end of the set, USM had just enough to get over the hump and finish off the Colonels.

"We played strong in the third set and put ourselves in a good position to win the fourth, but we have to learn how to start strong and finish the match," Laird said. "Giving a consistent effort is our main focus right now."

Nicholls was led by Kindra Halverson and Aaliyah Muhammad in kills with 11, followed by Chelsea Dockrey with 10. Morgan Johnson added 16 more kills to her season total for the Golden Eagles, followed by Mari Ruddick with 14 and Ashley Pertinec's 13.

Nicholls will next participate in the Hornet Invitational in Montgomery, Alabama Friday and Saturday.