Final Stats Box Score and Play-by-Play

HUNTSVILLE, Texas -  The Nicholls State University women's volleyball team (14-16) battled conference power Central Arkansas (25-7) through 19 tie scores and ten lead changes, but after two close sets to open the match, UCA pulled away as the Colonels fell to the Sugar Bears 3-0 (22-25, 23-25, 17-25) in the quarterfinals of the 2010 Southland Conference Tournament in Huntsville, Texas on Friday afternoon.

The loss at the hands of the Bears brings to an end the Colonels most successful season since 2002.  Nicholls' 14 victories in 2010 is the best by the program since racking up 19 eight years ago.

Appearaing in their third consecutive Southland Conference Tournament, the Colonels were hoping to duplicate the success they found at last season's tournament when seventh-seeded Nicholls upset No. 2 Sam Houston State before falling to No. 3 Stephen F. Austin in the semifinals.

However, this year the Colonels matched up with the most dominant team in the conference in the form of Central Arkansas.  The Sugar Bears entered the tournament with a 24-7 overall record and a 15-1 mark in conference play. 

Still, the Colonels stayed in the match by utilizing one of the best defenses in the nation.  Nicholls entered the tournament ranked 16th in the nation with a 17.5 dig/set average led by junior libero Danielle Daigle's 5.68 dig/set average that ranks eighth in the country.

Nicholls turned in one of its best defensive performances of the season on Friday by limiting UCA to a .181 (47-24-127) team hitting percentage.  The Colonels racked up 49 digs and 10.0 total blocks to keep the Bears within reach.

In the opening set, Nicholls and Central Arkansas battled through eight ties and six lead changes.  After falling behind 9-7, Nicholls put together a 8-2 run to go up 15-11.  However, the two teams continued to trade big runs back and forth the rest of the set.  UCA took a 20-17 lead with a 9-2 run, but the Colonels answered by pulling to within one at 21-20.  Unfortunately, for the Colonels, UCA pulled away for the 25-22 opening set win.

The second set proved just as competitive as neither side claimed a lead larger than two.  Down 23-21, Nicholls battled back to tie the match at 23-23.  But, once again, Central Arkansas was able to close out the set by claiming the last two points en route to a 25-23 win and a 2-0 lead.

In the third, the Sugar Bears showed the form that made them the best team in the conference, as Central Arkansas opened with a 10-3 run and never looked back en route to a 25-12 third set win.

The Colonels were led by Rachel Yezak's team-high eight kills.  Sophomore middle blocker Jessica Addicks led the Nicholls defense by having a hand in five of the Colonels' 10.0 blocks.