Final Stats Box Score and Play-by-Play

2010 Ragin Cajun Invitational Tournament Central

LAFAYETTE, La. - Four different Colonels totaled double-digit kills, led by sophomore Jennifer Brandt's 17 and Nicholls overcame a tough Huskies defense that totaled an impressive 19 blocks on the afternoon, as the Nicholls State University rallied for a 3-2 win over Houston Baptist by scores of 15-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-16 and 15-11 on the first day of the 2010 Ragin' Cajun Invitational at UL-Lafayette on Friday afternoon.

The Huskies struck first by dominating the opening set in a 25-15 win.  HBU outhit the Colonels .448 (14-1-29) to .028 (10-9-36) in the first set en route to the win.

However, Nicholls battled back in the second.  The Colonels recorded 17 digs as a team in the second frame with junior libero Danielle Daigle tallying seven of her 31 to limit the Huskies to a -.025 team hitting percentage (8-9-40) in the second frame.  However, the HBU defense was just as adept, totaling 5.0 of their 19.0 blocks to limit Nicholls to .079 (13-10-38) hitting.  Fortunately, in a set that saw five tie scores and three lead changes, the Colonels went on a 7-3 run to take a 20-13 lead before hanging 25-22 to even the match at 1-1.

Houston Baptist took the lead back in the third as 4.0 more blocks from the Huskies limited Nicholls to just .070 hitting (11-8-43).  The Colonels still managed to fight through five ties and four lead changes, but after pulling to within three at 22-19, HBU pulled away for a 25-21 win to take a 2-1 lead.

Looking to force a fifth and deciding set, the Colonels put together their best statistical set in the fourth, steamrolling HBU with a 25-16 victory.  Nicholls outhit HBU .344 (13-2-32) to .132 (12-7-38) and never trailed in the fourth to force the final set.

The Colonels kept their momentum in the final set and overcame 6.0 total team blocks by the Huskies.  Nicholls jumped out to a commanding 10-4 lead, but HBU went on a run to cut the Colonel lead to one at 12-11.  Fortunately, Nicholls put the match away thanks to a service error by the Huskies, a block by Jordan Karst and Jessica Addicks and a match-ending attack error by the Huskies.

Brandt (17), Addicks (11), junior right side hitter Rachel Yezak (10) and freshman outside hitter Lauren Chapman (10) each had double digit kills for the Colonels with Brandt (17 kills, 15 digs), Yezak (10 kills, 11 digs) and Chapman (10 kills, 10 digs) each recording double-doubles.

The Colonels will face a quick turnaround when they return to action on Saturday, the final day of the 2010 Ragin' Cajun Invitational.  Nicholls will square off against Jackson State at 10 a.m. before taking on host UL-Lafayette at 3:00 p.m.