Final Stats Box Score and Play-by-Play

THIBODAUX - The Nicholls State University women's volleyball team (13-15, 5-10 Southland Conference) battled the best team in the league through 16 ties and seven lead changes, but in the end, it wasn't enough as the University of Central Arkansas Bears (25-7, 14-1 Southland Conference) regained sole possession of first place in the Southland's overall standings by handing Nicholls a 3-0 defeat by scores of 21-25, 22-25, 18-25 on Thursday night.

Fortunately, for Nicholls, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi also lost on Thursday night, falling in straight sets with a 3-0 loss at Texas-Arlington.  Heading into the final match of the regular season, the Colonels remain tied for the eighth and final Southland Conference Tournament berth.  A win by Nicholls against Northwestern State, combined with a loss by Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at Texas State, on Saturday would clinch Nicholls its third consecutive Southland Conference Tournament berth as well as give the Colonels their best overall win total since a 19-win campaign in 2002.

Once again, the Colonels were led by sophomore middle blocker Jessica Addicks.  Addicks turned in a team-best ten kills on 21 errorless attempts for a team-leading .476 hitting percentage. It marked Addicks' fifth consecutive match with double-digit kills.  Over the past five matches, Addicks has turned in 54 kills, a .326 hitting percentage, and a 3.18 kill/set average, all team-highs. 

Junior libero Danielle Daigle led the Colonel defense by totaling 14 of Nicholls' 53 digs.

Unfortunately, for the Colonels, Central Arkansas showed why it was the best team in the conference.  The Bears outhit Nicholls .279 (48-14-122) to .190 (31-12-100) and four Central Arkansas players hit .300 or better on the night en route to the win.

The Colonels fought Central Arkansas through nine tie scores and five lead changes in the opening frame.  Junior right side hitter Rachel Yezak led the way in the opening frame with three kills, and Addicks added two more on five attempts in the first set tug-of-war. 

Nicholls led by as many as four, taking a 12-8 lead, to start the first set.  However, UCA rallied to tie the match at 16-16 before taking the lead for good.  The Bears closed out the opening frame with a 9-5 run for the 25-21 win.

The second set saw more of the same as a frame that included five ties and two lead changes went back-and-forth between the two teams until UCA pulled away late.  For the Colonels, Addicks tallied four of her ten kills on nine errorless attempts in the second to lead the way.  Sophomore middle blocker Jasmine Harris added to the Colonel cause with three kills on seven attempts with just one error for a .286 second set hitting percentage.

However, the Bears combined to hit .250 (14-5-36) as a team in the second frame to pull away for the 25-22 win.

The third frame followed suit as the Colonels spent the early part of the frame in a seesaw battle with the Bears.  However, after Nicholls pulled to within one at 10-9, Central Arkansas closed out the match with a 15-8 run for the 25-18 win.

The Colonels will return to action on Saturday in the 2010 regular season finale against Northwestern State.  Nicholls will be looking for a season sweep of the Demons after claiming a 3-1 win at Northwestern State on Sept. 30.

Prior to the start of the match with the Demons, Nicholls will honor seniors Chelsea Dockrey and Elise King in the Colonels' 2010 Senior Day Ceremony.  First serve is set for 2 p.m. in Stopher Gym.