THIBODAUX, La. – With 10 matches remaining in the regular-season, the Nicholls State University women's volleyball team will attempt to pick up steam and make a miraculous push for the postseason, beginning with a home match at noon on Saturday against a talented McNeese State squad.
 
The Colonels (5-12, 0-6 SLC) have hit a roadblock since entering Southland Conference play, but showed flashes of brilliance over the weekend against New Orleans and Central Arkansas.
 
The Cowgirls (7-13, 3-3 SLC) have had an up-and-down start to their league schedule, but are coming off of an impressive 3-2 win against one of the top teams in the Southland, Central Arkansas.
 
Last season McNeese swept Nicholls, 3-0, in Lake Charles, before the Colonels took a straight-set victory over the Cowgirls at home in the final regular-season match of the year. The win propelled Nicholls to the Southland Conference Tournament, and kept McNeese from reaching the postseason.
 
Preseason All-Southland First Team selection Kaci Eaton spearheads the Colonel offense. Eaton is first in the conference in attacks per set (11.54), second in the conference in kills per set (3.96) and is averaging an outstanding 4.43 points per set. Alyse Barclay leads Nicholls with 476 assists and Stephanie Tobison has earned a team-high 216 digs. Emily Weimer paces the squad with 35 blocks and Anna Niederhauser has a team-leading 24 service aces on the season.
 
Malina Sanchez (217 kills), Kelly Graham (705 assists), Bridget Justis (306 digs) and Monica Hudgins (65 blocks) lead the Cowgirls.
 
Following this weekend's action, the Colonels will battle the undefeated league-leader, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22 in Thibodaux.
 
Admission to all Nicholls home volleyball games is absolutely free! Come out and support your Colonels!
 
Visit geauxcolonels.com for live stats, video and the most up-to-date information on Nicholls volleyball.