THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University volleyball team has signed Lucija Barac of Dubrovnik, Croatia, Head Coach Tommy Harold announced Tuesday.
 
Barac will join the Colonels for the upcoming season after spending the first two years of her collegiate career as a setter and defensive specialist with Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Missouri. She started every game for the Vikings during the 2013 and 2014 season before suffering a season-ending injury.
 
Barac attended high school at Opca Gimnazija Dubrovnik. She took first place at the U16 Croatian Championship and first place at the U16 Croatian Open (Sportske Igre Mladih) in 2008. In 2009 Barac was named her school's Top Female Athlete. She took first place at the U19 Regional Croatian Open (Sportske Igre Mladih) in 2010. At the Kinder Maxi King Adria Super Cup Beach Volleyball Tournament, Barac was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. In 2011 she took first place at the Dubrovnik County Championships (Sportske Igre Mladih).
 
Daughter of Ana Ivanisin Barac M.D., Lucija has one brother, Vjekoslav. Her uncle played basketball for the U18 National Team and her brother plays basketball in the Croatian capital of Zagreb. Barac will major in Business at Nicholls and hopes to own her own business in the future, while continuing to stay involved in athletics.
 
The Colonels had an outstanding 2014 campaign, doubling their overall win total from 2013 and more than doubling their win total against Southland Conference opponents. Nicholls received numerous awards, including four selections to the SLC Commissioner's Cup. The Colonels reached the Southland Conference Tournament last season, falling to the No. 1 seed Stephen F. Austin.
 
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