THIBODAUX - The Nicholls State University women's volleyball team (3-3) concludes its season-opening seven match road trip with a visit to Southern (0-1) on Tuesday night.

The Colonels head into the match having already played six straight matches away from home to open the season.  Nicholls opened the year at the 2010 Southern Miss Invitational, dropping matches to Kennesaw State and the host Golden Eagles before a win against South Alabama.

Nicholls followed with another tournament, visiting the 2010 Ragin' Cajun Invitational hosted by UL-Lafayette.  The Colonels pushed their winning streak to three with a come-from-behind five-set win over Houston Baptist and a 3-1 win over Jackson State before losing to the host Cajuns on Sunday.

"One thing we've done well is that we've come from behind," head coach TeAna Tramel said.  "We've put ourselves in positions that weren't very good.  We've been down ten or 15 points at some times, and we've come from behind to win some sets.  It's been good to see the team push themselves and be able to come from behind.  I would like it if we could go out and establish ourselves from the very beginning and control the match."

The Colonels will try to take control against a Southern team that enters the match 0-1 against NCAA Division I competition.  The Jaguars opened the 2010 campaign on Sept. 3 with a 3-0 win against SWAC rival Alabama State.

Following their tilt with the Jaguars, the Colonels will return to Thibodaux to open the home portion of their 2010 schedule.  Nicholls will host the Nicholls Invitational and Nicholls Challenge in successive weekends, marking the first time in school history that the Nicholls volleyball program has hosted back-to-back weekend tournaments. 

The Colonels will play host to South Alabama, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Southern over the weekend for the Nicholls Invitational Sept. 10-11.  The following weekend, the Colonels will welcome Southeastern Louisiana, Louisiana Tech and Houston to Stopher Gym for the Nicholls Challenge.  After hosting Lamar (Sept. 23) and McNeese State (Sept. 25), the Colonels will have played eight consecutive matches at home.

 "I think our girls are excited for the chance to play at home for change," Tramel said.  "It's a good thing and it's a bad thing.  Being on the road so much early in the season, you kind of get used to being on the road.  Your routine gets set in stone.  Coming home can be kind of hard because you have to now balance going to class all day, a quick pregame meal and turning it on for a 7:00 p.m match.  I think it can be a little of a distraction.  But I think once we set foot into that gym and we have our actual fans there, I think that will make up for getting us out of our routine.  But we're excited to come home."

First serve for the Colonels match with Southern is set for 7:30 p.m. at Seymour Gym on the Southern campus.