Final Stats Box Score and Play-by-Play

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Nicholls State University women's volleyball team (1-2) outhit South Alabama (0-3) .209 (36-12-115) to .111 (36-23-117) to cruise to a 3-0 win over the Jaguars by scores of 27-25, 25-15 and 25-14 in the finale of the Southern Miss Invitational on Sunday.  The win is the first of the season for the Colonels and the first victory for first-year head coach TeAna Tramel on the Nicholls sidelines.

Sophomore outside hitter Jennifer Brandt led the Colonels' offensive efforts with 11 kills on .300 hitting (11-2-30).  Meanwhile, freshman Lauren Chapman tallied nine kills and nine digs to go along with the 20 kills and 16 digs she totaled in a pair of matches on Friday against Kennesaw State and Southern Miss to clinch all-tournament honors.

South Alabama started strong in the first set as the Colonels and Jaguars battled through nine tie scores and three lead changes.  However, after South Alabama tied the match at 17-17, Nicholls closed the set with a 10-8 run to clinch the 27-25 first set victory.

From there, the Colonels cruised in the second and third sets with 25-15 and 25-14 victories.  The Nicholls defense led the way in the second set as the Colonels totaled 4.0 team blocks.  Sophomore middle blocker Jasmine Harris had two solo blocks and Harris, junior right side hitter Rachel Yezak, sophomore outside hitter Rachel Yezak and Chapman each had a block assist as Nicholls rolled to a 25-15 second set win.

Nicholls came out strong in the third set, hitting .343 as a team (15-3-35).  Brandt led the way, hitting .364 (5-1-11).  The Colonels led the whole way in the third set, cruising to a 25-14 win.

Nicholls will return to action next weekend with a trip to the Ragin Cajun Invitational at UL-Lafayette.