THIBODAUX - The Nicholls State University volleyball team rings in a new era when the Colonels open the 2010 season this weekend with a trip to the four-team Southern Miss Invitational beginning on Friday.  The Colonels' 2:30 p.m. first serve against Kennesaw State will be head coach TeAna Tramel's first as head coach of the Colonels.

"It's been an exciting preseason," Tramel said.  "It's been a great opportunity.  The caliber of athletes we have here is amazing.  The team has made it a lot of fun." 

Tramel, who was hired in July, comes to Thibodaux after spending two years as an assistant coach at Washington State.  In her most recent role, Tramel was part of a coaching staff that began steadily rebuilding a Washington State program in one of the premier women's volleyball conferences in the nation. 

In her first season in Pullman, Tramel helped the Cougars to a 10-19 (3-15 Pac-10) finish in 2008, an improvement from a 2007 season that saw just one Cougar victory in the Pac 10.  Then, in 2009, Tramel helped the Cougars put together their most successful season in years.

 The 2009 version of the Cougars went 18-13 (6-12 Pac-10).  A 12-0 start to the season, a 12-0 non-conference record, and conference wins over Pac 10 powers Arizona, Arizona State, USC, Washington and Oregon State (twice) impressed the NCAA selection committee as the Cougars were awarded an at-large bid to the 2009 NCAA Tournament, their first in seven seasons.

Tramel will look to work the same magic in her first season with the Colonels.  Despite losing three starters from their 2009 Southland Conference Tournament semifinal team, Tramel remains confident that the 2010 Colonels can improve upon last year's success.

"They (the team) are all very coachable," Tramel said.  "They've all been willing to change and buy into what I've brought with me from all my previous schools and tie it into what we're doing here.  So, t's been a fun and exciting time.  The mood on the team is one of excitement.  They all feel like they're getting better, and I can't ask for anything more."

In her first match with the Colonels, Tramel will try to help Nicholls avenge a 2009 loss to Kennesaw State in Friday's season opener.  The Colonels dropped a 3-2 heartbreaker to Kennesaw State at the Owls' home tournament last September.

However, after squaring off against Kennesaw State, the Colonels face a quick turnaround as Nicholls takes on the host Golden Eagles (the defending regular season Conference USA champions) on Friday at 7:00 p.m. in the conclusion of the first day of action at the Southern Miss Invitational.  The Colonels will conclude their weekend with a 2:30 p.m. first serve against the South Alabama Jaguars on Saturday.
 
The Southern Miss Invitational also marks a stretch of four consecutive tournament weekends for the Colonels.  After their trip to Hattiesburg, Nicholls will visit UL-Lafayette for a four-team tournament before coming home to host tournaments in consecutive weekends at Stopher Gym.