HOUSTON, Texas – The Nicholls State University women's volleyball team faced Houston Baptist University on Saturday afternoon, falling 3-1 at the Dugan Wellness Center.
 
The Colonels (7-15, 3-6 SLC) battled the Huskies (11-12, 6-3 SLC) in one of the most evenly matched contests of the season. Nicholls matched HBU point-for-point, but was unable to find enough in the key final moments to come away with the victory.
 
The Colonels maintained a lead for nearly the entire first set before Houston Baptist forced a 24-24 tie and eventually stole the set 27-25. Nicholls fought back to earn a 25-23 victory in the second set. The Huskies responded in the third, earning a 25-17 victory.
 
HBU looked to be pulling away in the fourth set, going up by as much as six points, but the Colonels responded. Down 22-18, Coach Tommy Harold called a timeout before Kaci Eaton went on a tear, earning three straight kills and bringing Nicholls within one. After an attack error by the Huskies, the score was even at 22 apiece. HBU made a final push to earn three points of their own, taking the set 25-23 and winning the match.
 
Kaci Eaton had a monster afternoon for the Colonels registering 21 kills, with 12 digs, two blocks and a team-high .262 hitting percentage. Kalynn Egea finished one dig short of her season-high, earing 31 digs on the afternoon (the third-highest dig total in school history). Ainsley Marroccoli had a career-high 45 assists, while Kali Schwartz filled the stat sheet with 14 kills, 12 digs and six service aces.
 
Jessica Wooten led the Huskies in both kills (21) and digs (18). Kalya Armer paced the squad with 49 assists and the highest hitting percentage on the team at .625. Blair Gillard added 9 blocks in the match.
 
Nicholls will return to Thibodaux for a three-game home-stand beginning with Abilene Christian on Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 6:30 p.m.
 
Visit geauxcolonels.com to find live stats and the most up-to-date information on Nicholls women's volleyball.