Final Stats SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Nicholls State University women's volleyball team fell 3-2 against the University of the Incarnate Word on Thursday night in a five-set battle.
 
The Colonels (9-17, 5-8 SLC) remain in eighth place in the Southland Conference with only three games remaining in the regular season.
 
The Cardinals (9-18, 5-8 SLC) are ineligible for postseason play, but moved into a tie with Nicholls for eighth in the Southland Conference.
 
In a hard-fought first set, the Colonels earned a 28-26 victory and took an early lead in the contest. Incarnate Word battled back in the second, taking the set 25-17 before earning a 25-16 victory in the third set. Nicholls responded in the fourth, grabbing a dominant 25-10 victory, but were unable to carry their momentum into the fifth and final set, falling 15-7 as the Cardinals claimed the match victory.
 
Kaci Eaton led the Colonels offensively with 13 kills, while Ainsley Marroccoli had a team-high 29 assists on the night. Kalynn Egea paced Nicholls defensively with 17 digs.
 
Angelique Vidaurri had a team-leading 12 kills to lead the Cardinals, while Madison Williams added 39 assists. Jordan Reifsteck spearheaded the Incarnate Word defense with 26 digs, while Bryaunea Hall had nine blocks in the game.
 
The Colonels will travel to Abilene, Texas for a matchup against Abilene Christian at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
 
Visit geauxcolonels.com to find live stats and the most up-to-date information on Nicholls women's volleyball.