Final Stats Oct. 10, 2009
Box Score
THIBODAUX - Senior outside hitter Manieka Golden had a team-high 14 kills and a .324 hitting percentage (14-2-37) and freshman Jennifer Brandt added 11 more as the Nicholls State University women's volleyball team (9-10, 3-2 Southland Conference) stretched their winning streak to four matches with a 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-12) win over McNeese State (14-5, 2-3 Southland) on Saturday.
McNeese entered the match second in the conference in overall wins, but it was the Colonels who dominated on offense and defense on Saturday.
"What a weekend for Nicholls volleyball," head coach Chris Laird said of a team that upset Stephen F. Austin on Friday night. "Our returners did a great job and the freshmen really stepped up. Anytime you beat two quality teams like that, it proves you are doing the right things. Danielle Daigle did a great job with her passing, Amy Whitehead deserves a lot of credit for the set decisions she made and Golden did a good job getting the ball down."
Nicholls outhit the Cowgirls .263 (38-12-99) to .046 (28-23-108), took advantage of 39 McNeese errors, and posted five blocks and 49 digs on defense en route to the 3-0 win.
The Colonels got off to a strong start with a 5-1 run in the first set. Golden posted six of her 14 kills in the opening frame, and Nicholls went on a 12-7 run after the Cowgirls rallied to tie the set 13-13 to take a 1-0 lead with a 25-20 win in the first.
Both offenses found their stride in the second as McNeese hit .310 in the second. Fortunately, for Nicholls, the Colonel offense still outpaced the Cowgirls by hitting .410 as a team. Golden and Brandt each had four kills and freshman Jasmine Harris hit .750 as the Colonels took a 2-0 advantage with another 25-20 win.
McNeese scored the first point of the third frame as Nicholls fell behind for the first time on the afternoon. However, the Colonels responded by going on a 10-2 run to take the lead for good. Nicholls recorded just three attack errors and posted three blocks to limit the Cowgirls to a -.176 hitting percentage while pulling away to a 25-12 win to put the match on ice.
The win extends the Colonels' winning streak to a season-best four matches, which ties for the third-longest win streak the program's Division I history, and completes a sweep of Nicholls' longest homestand of the season.
Nicholls will now hit the road for a midweek contest at conference rival Lamar on Wednesday. First serve is set for 7:00 p.m.
The Colonels will return to Stopher Gym on Friday to host Sam Houston State in Stopher Gym on Oct. 16 at 7:00 p.m. In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness month, the Colonels will be participating in NCAA Volleyball's Dig for the Cure when they host the Bearkats.
