Head Coach TeAna Tramel and the Colonels have tied the best start to a season in school history.
2010 Nicholls Challenge Presented by Thibodaux Regional Medical Center Tournament Central
THIBODAUX - Riding the best start to a season in 13 years, the Nicholls State University women's volleyball team (7-3) will look to stay hot when they host the 2010 Nicholls Challenge Presented by Thibodaux Regional Medical Center this Friday and Saturday at Stopher Gym.
Nicholls has gone 7-3 through the first ten matches of the season, equalling the best 10-game start to a season since the the 1997 Colonels opened the season with a 7-3 mark en route to a 24-11 overall record and a runner-up finish at the 1997 Southland Conference Tournament.
Nicholls has won four conseuctive matches and seven of its last eight, including a three-match sweep to clinch the championship of last weekend's Nicholls Invitational. However, the Colonels have their work cut out for them if they plan to keep their hot start going.
Nicholls will welcome Houston, Louisiana Tech and Southeastern Louisiana to Stopher Gym for this weekend's tournament. La Tech heads into Stopher Gym riding a four-match win streak of their own. The Bulldogs (7-4) have won five of their last six and won last weekend's Louisiana Tech Tournament.
Southeastern heads into the weekend with a 7-6 record after finishing second at La Tech's tournament last weekend, and look to have a head of steam as they head into the Southland Conference opener on Friday night with Nicholls.
Meanwhile, Houston has rebounded from a 1-5 start with vicotries over western powerhouses BYU and Loyola Marymount at last weekend's BYU Molten Classic heading into this weekend.
The tournament begins on Friday with a 3 p.m. first serve between Houston and Louisiana Tech. The Colonels will follow in their 2010 Southland Conference opener against Southeastern Louisiana beginning at 7 p.m.
Saturday's action will begin at 10 a.m. with a match between La Tech and Southeastern. Nicholls will follow at noon against Houston. Houston returns to the court for a 2 p.m. first serve against Southeastern, and Nicholls will conclude the tournament against Louisiana Tech at 4 p.m.
