THIBODAUX, La. – Senior outside Stephanie Tobison registered a team-high 16 kills as the Nicholls State University volleyball team dropped a four-setter (25-20, 25-19, 25-27, 25-15) to the University of Central Arkansas Thursday at Stopher Gym.

 As a team, the Colonels (3-18, 1-7 SLC) swung at a .218 clip, the highest mark in a Southland Conference match this season.

Junior setter Jade Piper converted her third straight double-double as she totaled 39 assists and 12 digs. Tobison also added 13 digs for her second consecutive double-double. Freshman Imanie Williams connected on 13 kills, complemented by a career-high .400 attacking percentage.

The Sugar Bears (17-2, 6-1 SLC) were fronted by Samantha Anderson's 21 kills, Elizabeth Armstrong's 48 assists, and Haley Tippett's 12 kills and 10 digs.  UCA concluded the match with a 10-3 advantage in blocks.

The first set came to a 9-9 tie before the Sugar Bears tallied four consecutive points, which proved to be an insurmountable lead. A three-point spurt in the second set at 10-8 lifted UCA to a 2-0 edge.

The highlight for Nicholls came in set three when it was trailing 24-18. The Colonels tallied seven straight points behind three aces from sophomore libero Emily Venable. Tied at 25, Nicholls broke through with back-to-back kills by junior Brieanna Hill and Tobison.

Three straight kills by Tobison in the decisive set put the Colonels within one at 9-8, but the Sugar Bears responded with four in a row to regain control and eventually win the match.

Nicholls faces Northwestern State Saturday. First serve from Stopher Gym is set for noon.

For the latest news on Nicholls volleyball, follow the team on Twitter @Nicholls_VB.