Nov. 21, 2009

Box Score

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Fresh off their first official postseason win since joining the Southland Conference, the seventh-seeded Nicholls State University women's volleyball team (13-19) went looking for its second straight upset on Saturday afternoon in the Southland Conference Tournament semifinals. However, despite 23 kills and 14 digs from senior outside hitter Manieka Golden and another 13 kills from freshman outside hitter Jennifer Brandt, it was No. 3 seed Stephen F. Austin who came a away with a 3-1 win by scores of 23-25, 20-25, 25-19 and 27-25 at the Convocation Center in San Antonio on Saturday.

The Colonels outhit the Ladyjacks .247 (57-21-146) to .219 (56-23-151) in a hard-fought match that saw 33 tie scores and 14 lead changes, but it wasn't enough to overcome a fast start by SFA, which bettered Nicholls in blocks (9.0 to 7.0) and recorded fewer errors (37 to 41).

Both teams started slow as SFA hit just .158 (12-6-38) in the opening frame. However, Nicholls hit just .026 (11-10-39) in the first. Nicholls saw Golden post five of her 23 kills in the first set, and the Colonels battled to tie the score at 22-22. However, two SFA kills and a Colonel error allowed the Ladyjacks to pull away for the final points and the first set win.

Nicholls got its offense going in the second as the Colonels .282 (15-4-39) and saw six more kills from Golden, three each from Brandt and freshman middle blocker Jasmine Harris.

Unfortunately, SFA got going on offense as well. The Ladyjacks recorded a .333 team hitting percentage (16-4-36) in the second. In a set that saw seven ties and four lead changes, Nicholls went back and forth with SFA, tying the match at 16-16. However, the Ladyjacks put together a 9-4 run from that point on to pull away for the second set win and a 2-0 lead.

Facing elimination, Nicholls rallied in the third. The Colonels picked up momentum by avoiding a straight-set loss thanks to an impressive .387 team hitting percentage (14-2-31). Golden and Brandt each had five kills to lead the offense and a strong defensive effort was keyed by 4.0 team blocks and five of sophomore libero Danielle Daigle's 21 digs. The Colonels never trailed in the third set en route to a 25-19 to force a fourth set.

Unfortunately, for Nicholls, SFA rebounded in the next frame. The Colonels saw eight kills from Golden, six more from Brandt and three from sophomore outside hitter Rachel Yezak to record a .324 (17-5-37). Nicholls battled through 16 ties and eight lead changes with SFA. However, the Ladyjacks rallied to tie the match at 24-24 before a 3-1 run gave SFA the 3-1 victory and a berth in the tournament title match on Sunday.

The Colonels had defeated No. 2 Sam Houston State for an upset victory in the opening round on Friday. Saturday's defeat puts the Colonels' 2009 record at 13-19, amking it Nicholls' winningest season since the Colonels went 19-14 in 2002. Nicholls, which qualified for the 2008 Southland Conference Tournament, had earned a berth in the postseason event in consecutive seasons for the first time in school history.