Final Stats CONWAY, Ark. – The Nicholls State University women's volleyball team had the daunting task of taking on regular season co-champ and No. 2 seed Sam Houston State in the opener of the Southland Conference Volleyball Tournament on Friday and fell in straight sets 25-22, 25-12, 25-19.

The loss ends Nicholls' season, as the Colonels finish the year with an 11-19 record, while Sam Houston State improves to 21-10.

The Colonels were led by seniors Jennifer Brandt and Sarah Terry's six kills, as Nicholls hit .125 in the match. Nancy Taylor had 26 assists and 11 digs in her final match as a Colonel, while Jeanne Logarbo led the team in digs with 12.

The Bearkats had two players finish with double-digit kills on the day, led by 2012 Southland Conference Player of the Year Deveney Wells-Gibson who had 16. Kaylee Hawkins had 12 and hit .444 as Sam Hosuton State finished with 40 kills to just 10 errors to hit .319 as a team.

There were 14 ties and eight lead changes in the first set, as the Colonels were dealt a tough blow as Jessica Addicks went down with an ankle injury and did not return to the match. The match was tense deep until the final points, as Nicholls forced three ties after the two teams got to the 20 point mark. With the score tied 22-22, Sam Houston State rattled off the final three points to win 25-22.

The Bearkats jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in the second and went up 7-3 to force the first Nicholls timeout. The Colonels fell behind further after getting outscored 7-5 to force another timeout down 14-8. Sam Houston continued to roll and held Nicholls to just four more points in the set as they went on to take the second 25-12, powered by a 6-0 run.

The team refused to go quietly as Nicholls forced 14 ties and five lead changes in the final frame alone. The Colonels leaped out to a 16-14 lead in the set and looked to continue to make a game of it, but Sam Houston went on a 5-0 run to take a 19-16 lead. Sam went up 21-18 to force a Nicholls timeout, but the quick break wouldn't be enough as the Bearkats held Nicholls to just one more point, eventually winning 25-19.