Oct. 24, 2008

Box Score

THIBODAUX, La. - Nicholls took the top team in the SLC West to five games but couldn't shut the door, dropping a 3-2 (25-15, 25-14, 23-25, 24-26, 15-12) decision to Texas State (14-12, 7-1 SLC) Friday night in Stopher Gym.

"We're definitely pushing teams that people don't expect us to push," said head coach Chris Laird. "We're still working on building our confidence. It's great to be in a match like this, but it's the sixth five-set match we've played and honestly, we're tired of being the bridesmaid."

Senior Chelsey Adams (Gulf Breeze, Fla./Pensacola JC) and junior Manieka Golden (Porter, Texas/Galveston CC) paced the Colonels with 14 kills each. Both Adams and Golden hit over .300 for the match (.312 and .355, respectively).

Junior Rachel Spreen (Houston, Texas/Bellaire) also reached double digits offensively, tallying 10 kills on the night, and logged a match-high three service aces.

Colonel setter Amy Whitehead (San Antonio, Texas/Douglas MacArthur), who was honored in a pre-match ceremony for setting a new Nicholls career assists record, dished out 44 on the night, adding seven digs and the block assists to her ledger.

Freshman Danielle Daigle (Napoleonville, La./Assumption led Nicholls with 19 digs, followed by senior Enjoli Ford (New Orleans, La./McDonough 35), who finished with 12.

After falling behind 2-0, the Colonels (6-13, 3-6 SLC) rallied back, never trailing in the third set and leading by as many as five points.

"I can't say enough about our team," said Laird. "I'm so proud of the girls for coming back after being down two. In those first two sets, we just went through the motions and it showed."

Junior Amy Beshir recorded six kills on seven attempts for a .714 hitting percentage in the third game, part of a team .276.

The Bobcats and Colonels traded the lead and the serve back and forth in the fourth set before Nicholls broke a 24-24 stalemate with kills from freshman Rachel Yezak (Houston, Texas/Klein) and Whitehead.

"Sets three and four we played with confidence," Laird noted. "We were loose and relaxed and did the right things at the right times."

Adams powered the Colonels through in the frame, recording five kills in seven tries (.571), followed by Spreen's four kills. Nicholls hit .293 in the set, forcing a fifth and deciding game.

"Again, when it came down to crunch time in the fifth set," added Laird, "we played not to lose rather than playing to win."

Texas State sealed the win in the fifth set, using a 4-1 run to break an 11-11 tie and claim the victory.

"It definitely helped that we were at home," Laird said. "We're a home team. We have to take care of business tomorrow and rebound emotionally from this loss. Tomorrow is a great opportunity to get a win. It's a new day and we have to focus on that match now."

Nicholls will take on Texas Arlington at 2 p.m. on Saturday in Stopher Gym.

######