Final Stats THIBODAUX - The Nicholls State University women's volleyball team (9-6, 2-1 Southland Conference) started strong, winning the first two sets, but the McNeese State Cowgirls (6-10, 1-2 Southland) rallied to take a 3-2 win over the Colonels by scores of 25-19, 25-13, 21-25, 19-25, 10-15 on Saturday in Stopher Gym.

Nicholls started strong hitting .293 (16-4-41) in the first set while limiting McNeese to .064 hitting (12-9-47).  The Colonels 25-19 first set win gave Nicholls a 1-0 lead.

Nicholls kept up its momentum in the second, outhitting McNeese .333 (14-3-33) to .080 (8-6-25) to cruise to a 25-13 second set win.

The Colonels boasted three players with double digit kills on the day.  Sophomore middle blocker Jessica Addicks led the way with 16 kills and a .238 hitting percentage (16-7-38), both team highs.  Sophomore outside hitter Jennifer Brandt added 15 kills and a .244 hitting percentage (15-4-45) and junior right side hitter Rachel Yezak chipped in 11 kills.

However, McNeese rallied in the third, picking up a 25-21 win.  The Cowgirls' offense got hot thanks to Taylor Bustamento, who turned in a match-high 23 kills and a .333 hitting percentage (23-6-51) on the day.  McNeese claimed a 25-19 fourth set win to even the match before claiming a 15-10 win in the fifth and deciding set for the win.

The loss is the first for the Colonels in Southland Conference play.  Nicholls will try to return to form on Thursday when the Colonels open the road portion of their 2010 Southland Conference schedule.  The Colonels will vist Northwestern State on Thursday for a 7 p.m. match before heading to conference power Central Arkansas on Saturday.