Final Stats HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Nicholls State University volleyball team opened the regular season on the right foot with a 3-0 straight-set victory over Southern on Friday.
 
Playing without Preseason All-Southland First Team selection, Kaci Eaton, the Colonels (1-0) had no trouble picking up the slack as the team made quick work of the Jaguars (0-1) in the opening match of the Southern Miss Invitational.
 
The first two sets were never in doubt as Nicholls earned victories of 25-13 and 25-14. Southern fought back in the final set, attempting to extend the match, but the Colonels earned a tough a 25-21 set win to close out the contest.
 
After missing the majority of last season with injury, Kayla Mashburn led Nicholls offensively with 12 kills, followed closely by newcomer Anna Niederhauser, who had nine. The trio of Lucija Barac, Ainsley Marroccoli and Alyse Barclay combined for 27 assists, while Niederhauser paced the Colonels with 14 digs. Kali Schwartz and Sydney Lerille each finished with three blocks, and Barac had a game-high four aces.
 
Three different Jaguars recorded a team-leading four kills, while Diamond Williams earned 16 digs and Jamie Selleneit dished out 11 assists to pace the squad.
 
Nicholls finished ahead of Southern in points (48-28), kills (30-21), aces (12-5), blocks (9-4) and assists (29-21) on the night.
 
The Colonels will take on Mercer at 10 a.m. and conclude the tournament against the host team, Southern Miss, at 6 p.m.
 
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