THIBODAUX, La.  –  Seniors Kaci Eaton and Kali Schwartz combined for 29 kills and each recorded a double-double, but it was not enough as the Nicholls State University volleyball team fell in five sets (25-21, 18-25, 25-19, 25-27, 15-12) to McNeese in its home finale Tuesday night.
 
Despite the outcome, the Colonels (8-23, 3-12 SLC) saw four players reach double figures in digs, led by 32 from sophomore Alexa Perry. Schwartz had 18 and Eaton finished with 12 for their sixth double-doubles of the season, and freshman Emily Venable had 13 stops to go along with a team-high 26 assists for her third of her career.
 
The Colonels' best defensive effort came in the second set after they rebounded from a tough 25-21 loss to start the match. Nicholls limited McNeese (10-20, 6-9 SLC) to a .114 hitting percentage in the second as the Colonels cruised to a 25-18 win.
 
In the third, Nicholls started off hot with a 7-0 lead before the Cowgirls went on a 10-0 run midway through for a 20-15 advantage. The Colonels never recovered from the spurt as they fell behind, 2-1.
 
Nicholls returned the favor in the fourth, battling back from a 21-13 deficit to tie the match at 23-all. With the scored tied at 25, Sydney Lerille delivered two of her nine kills on the night to close out the set and force a fifth.
 
In the final set, McNeese doubled up the Colonels at 10-5 before the home team made one last push, tying the match at 11-11 after a huge block by Emily Weimer. But the Cowgirls allowed just one point the rest of the way as they took the set to complete the season sweep.
 
Nicholls hit .140 in the match as Jade Piper helped direct the offense with 19 helpers. Stephanie Tobison had 17 digs and nine kills, and Weimer had three block assists and one solo.
 
The Colonels will wrap up the season on Thursday, Nov. 10 at Abilene Christian. The Wildcats took the previous meeting the season, 3-0. First serve is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.