Final Stats THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University women's volleyball team was put through its paces against the McNeese State Cowgirls on Saturday, but behind a milestone day for Jennifer Brandt and 10-kill match from fellow senior Jessica Addicks the Colonels defeated McNeese 3-1 (25-19, 22-25, 25-21, 25-21) in Thibodaux.

Nicholls (5-6), continues to roll as the team extends its winning streak to three matches, and has won their last three against McNeese dating back to last season. Nicholls begins Southland play 2-0 for the first time since 2010.

Leading the way for the Colonels was Jennifer Brandt who not only posted her third consecutive double-double and fifth of the year with a team high 12 kills and 18 digs, but became the seventh player in Nicholls volleyball history to reach 1000 kills in a career.

“I'm so fortunate to be able to play with these girls on this team, and I could not have accomplished this feat without them,” Brandt said.

Following closely was fellow senior Jessica Addicks, who finished the afternoon with ten kills and five blocks, hitting .400 to lead the team with 16.5 total points on the afternoon.

Nancy Taylor led all players with 42 assists, posting her third-straight double-double adding ten digs with three kills and a block.

After jumping out to a 7-2 lead in the opening set, the Cowgirls, who looked caught off guard by the Colonels early, rebounded after a McNeese State timeout to win six of the next eight points to make the score 9-8. The Cowgirls remained within a few points of the Colonels until Nicholls went on a four-point swing with the score 16-15 to go up 19-15 and cruise to the 25-19 set win.

The Cowgirls began to click offensively in the second set, rushing out to an 8-3 lead, being the first team to get to ten and lead 10-5. Nicholls didn't back away as they stole five of the next six points to pull within one point, eventually tying the match a few points later at 12-12.

Another four point lead lost by the Cowgirls after getting to 18 prompted a timeout for McNeese State, but not before the Colonels were still able to take a 19-18 lead. That lead was short-lived as McNeese State won the next four points to go up 22-19 and go on to win the second 25-22.

The Colonels from the first set returned after the intermission, breaking the third and final tie of the third set at 11-11 by going on a four-point run to lead 15-11. Nicholls held at minimum a three point lead over the Cowgirls for the rest of the set going up 2-1 with a 25-21 set win.

The fourth was the toughest for Nicholls, as the team trailed big early and needed to rally for the first 36 points of the set. There were a total of four ties and three lead changes in the final frame alone, with the tide turning in the Colonels' favor after the 18-18 tiebreak. Nicholls got another four point cushion to lead 22-18, and got the final three points they needed over the course of the next five points to win 25-21. 

The Colonels hit the road next weekend, traveling to face the Central Arkansas Sugar Bears and Oral Roberts Golden Eagles.