THIBODAUX - The Nicholls State University women's volleyball team (12-10, 4-5 Southland Conference) will look to make up ground in the Southland Conference Tournament race when the Colonels host Stephen F. Austin (11-13, 4-5 Southland) in a 2 p.m. first serve on Saturday.

The Colonels enter the weekend in the middle of a crowded Southland Conference Tournament race.  Nicholls currently sits in a four-way tie for fifth place with SFA, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Sam Houston State.  With eight teams slated to make the Southland Conference Tournament, the league's fifth through 11th place teams are separated by just 2.0 matches in the conference standings.

A victory over the Ladyjacks on Saturday would help the Colonels solidify their place in their quest for their third consecutive Southland Conference Tournament appearance.  A victory on Saturday would also give the Colonels' their 13th win of the season, matching their 2009 overall win total.  Meanwhile, the Colonels next Southland Conference win would put Nicholls one win shy of 2009's total of six league wins.

The Colonels enter the match with the Ladyjacks with momentum after snapping a four-match losing streak in conference play with a 3-1 win at Southeastern Louisiana on Thursday.  However, SFA has their own head of steam, having one three of their last four matches in conference play, recovering from their own four-match conference losing skid.

Nicholls is led by one of the best defenses in the country.  The Colonels have compiled a 17.04 digs/set average, the 25th best mark in the country.  Junior libero Danielle Daigle has been in the top ten in the nation in digs/set average all season, currently ranking seventh in the nation in that category with a 5.71 dig/set mark.

First serve between the Colonels and Ladyjacks is set for 2 p.m.  Following their match with SFA, Nicholls will embark on a four-match road trip from Oct. 28 through Nov. 6.  The Colonels will return to Nicholls to finish the 2010 regular season with a two-match homestand against Northwestern State (Nov. 11) and Central Arkansas (Nov. 13).