Final Stats Box Score and Play-by-Play

2010 Nicholls Challenge Presented by Thibodaux Regional Medical Center Tournament Central

THIBODAUX -  In a match that saw 19 tie scores and eight lead changes, the Nicholls State University women's volleyball team (8-3, 1-0 Southland Conference) was forced to withstand multiple rallies from in-state rival Southeastern Louisiana (7-7, 0-1 Southland Conference).  Fortunately, for the Colonels, the Nicholls defense endured and pulled away for the 3-1 win by scores of 25-22, 20-25, 25-20, 26-24 on Friday night at Stopher Gym in match number two of the 2010 Nicholls Challenge Presented by Thibodaux Regional Medical Center. 

In a match that was marked by several long rallies, Nicholls survived a second set win by the Lions as well as coming back from a Southeastern set point in the fourth to avoid a fifth and final set and claim the win. 

Nicholls was led by a stingy defense as the Colonels piled up 72 digs that limited the Lions to .158 hitting (45-22-146) on the night.  Junior libero Danielle Daigle, who came into the match ranked in the top ten in the nation in dig/set average, once again led the way with 21.  However, three other Colonels joined Daigle in posting double-digit digs as sophomore outside hitter Jennifer Brandt tallied 14 and juniors Jordan Karst and Rachel Yezak recorded ten each.

The Colonel offense was led by Brandt and Yezak, who each had 14 kills.  Sophomore middle blocker Jessica Addicks added 12 kills to the Colonel cause, and sophomore middle blocker Jasmine Harris was by far the most efficient hitter on the night, totaling a .471 hitting percentage thanks to nine kills and just one error on 17 attempts.

In what would become a theme on the night, Southeastern made the Colonels work for the opening set win.  The Colonels were down by as many as eight in the opening frame as 14 first set errors by the Colonels contributed to a 17-9 lead by Southeastern.

However, Nicholls put together an impressive 16-5 run to slam the door on the Lions and claima 25-22 first set win and a 1-0 lead.

The second set proved to be a different story.  This time, Nicholls jumped out to an early lead jumping out to a 5-1 start and increasing their lead to five at 11-6.  However, Southeastern began chipping away at the Colonel lead and the Lion offense started to get hot.  Southeastern compiled a .342 (15-2-38) team hitting percentage and went on a 13-5 run to tie the score at 18-18 in the second.  The Colonels tried to mount a comeback of their own, but Southeastern pulled away for the 25-20 win to tie the match at 1-1.

The third set proved to be a back-and-forth affair early on as neither side could pull away.  The Colonels fell behind 15-13, but Nicholls went on a 12-5 run to outpace Southeastern the rest of the way.  The 25-20 win gave Nicholls a 2-1 advantage.

Looking to avoid a fifth and deciding set, the Colonels came out strong in the fourth.  Nicholls jumped out to a 7-2  lead and stayed out in front for most of the set.  However, Southeastern stayed close and began chipping away at Nicholls' lead.  After Nicholls took a 21-18 lead, the Lions struck with a 3-0 run to tie the score at 21-21.  After trading points back-and-forth with the Colonels, the Lions rallied to tie the score once again at 23-23, and a Southeastern block of a Nicholls attack attempt on the ensuing point meant that Southeastern took a 24-23 lead and was one point away from forcing set number five. 

After a timeout, the Colonels rallied with a kill by Yezak to tie things up at 24-24.  An attack error by Southeastern after a long rally gave the Colonels the 25-24 lead, and the Colonels survived another long rally and got a kill from senior Elise King to clinch the 26-24 win and 3-1 match victory.

The victory is the fifth consecutive win for the Colonels and keeps them tied for the best record to open a season in school history.  The 1997 Colonels opened the season with an 8-3 mark through the first 11 matches en route to a 24-11 overall record and a runner-up finish at the 1997 Southland Conference Tournament.

Match number one of the 2010 Nicholls Challenge Presented by Thibodaux Regional Medical Center saw Houston claim a 3-1 win over Louisiana Tech.

The tournament resumes at 10 a.m. on Saturday in Stopher Gym as Louisiana Tech takes on Southeastern.  Houston and Nicholls follow at noon, The Lions and Cougars square off at 2 p.m. and the Colonels take on the Lady Techsters at 4 p.m.