LAFAYETTE, La. – Playing against her former team for the first time, Nicholls State University sophomore Brieanna Hill put together a career day with 14 kills as the Colonels defeated Louisiana-Lafayette, 3-1 (20-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-22), on Saturday to close out the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Volleyball Classic.
 
Hill, who spent last season with the Ragin' Cajuns (1-6), was the lone Colonel to reach double figures in kills, but had plenty of help in securing the win against the instate rival. Alexa Perry had a match-high 28 digs, Ainsley Marroccoli finished with 27 assists and 12 digs, and Lucija Barac had 18 helpers and five aces.
 
HOW IT WAS WON
 
The first set saw nine ties, including at 20-all on an ace by Marroccoli, but three errors by the Colonels led to five consecutive points for ULL to close out the match. The Colonels posted their lowest hitting percentage in the loss, finishing at .128.
 
In the second, Nicholls jumped out to a 5-1 lead and never looked back. The Colonels led by as much as seven in the set as they evened the score at 1-1.
 
Hill started the third set with a kill and Nicholls did not relinquish its lead for the entire duration. The Colonels held a slim lead throughout until a pair of aces by Barac helped nearly doubled the advantage at 15-8. ULL went on a 4-0 run to come within three, but was not able to get any closer in the 25-20 decision.
 
The final set proved to be the most competitive as there were five lead changes. The home team doubled up the Colonels 8-4 in the early going and it wasn't until 21-20 that Nicholls regained the lead after Hill's 13th kill of the day. The Berwick native delivered one more to make it match point at 24-22 before ULL's final attack was long, giving the Colonels a 3-1 win.

Hill and Lerille were named to the all-tournament team as Nicholls went 2-1 in the three matches.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Colonels will play their fourth match of an 11-match road swing on Tuesday (Sept. 6) at Southern at 6 p.m. Nicholls defeated Southern, 3-0, in its home debut last Wednesday.
 
For the most up-to-date information on Nicholls volleyball visit geauxcolonels.com. Be sure to follow the team on Twitter @Nicholls_VB.