LAFAYETTE, La. – Coming off of a 2-1 runner-up performance at the Southern Miss Invitational in Hattiesburg last weekend, the Nicholls State University women's volleyball team has their sights set on the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Volleyball Classic, hosted by Louisiana-Lafayette.
 
The Colonels (2-1) will open the round-robin style tournament at 5 p.m. on Friday against the University of Houston, before taking on the host Ragin' Cajuns and Jackson State in a double-header on Saturday.
 
Junior outside hitter Kayla Mashburn and freshman outside hitter Anna Niederhauser, who were both named to the Southern Miss Invitational All-Tournament team, will lead Nicholls into this weekend's competition.
 
Mashburn currently leads the Colonels with 40 kills on the season, averaging 3.64 per set. Ainsley Marroccoli paces the squad with 42 assists, followed closely by Alyse Barclay (38) and Lucija Barac (22).
 
Stephanie Tobison spearheads the Nicholls defense with 33 digs (3.30 per set), while Sydney Lerille has a team-high seven blocks.
 
A newcomer from Bern, Switzerland, Niederhauser has been the Colonels' most versatile player through three matches. She is first on the team in service aces (eight), while placing second in points (42), points per set (3.82), kills (30), kills per set (2.73), digs (30) and blocks (six).
 
Last season Houston ranked 18^th in total attacks and 32^nd in kills. This year Brookah Palmer leads the Cougars with team-highs in kills (63) and digs (31), while Keandra McCardell paces the squad with 80 assists.
 
Louisiana-Lafayette ranked 51^st in digs and 59^th in opponent hitting percentage over the 2014 campaign. Through four matches this season, Chanelle Gardner leads the team with 28 kills, Sydney Davis has a team-high 44 digs and Jessica Bartczyszyn paces the Ragin' Cajuns with 99 assists.
 
Nicholls will see its next action a bit closer to home, facing the Allstate Sugar Bowl Collegiate Classic, hosted by Tulane in New Orleans.
 
Visit geauxcolonels.com for live stats, video and the most up-to-date information on Nicholls volleyball.