NATCHITOCHES, La.  – Freshman Imanie Williams racked up 12 kills for her fourth-straight double-digit performance, but the Nicholls State University volleyball team came up empty at Northwestern State Thursday night in a 3-0 loss (25-14, 25-17, 25-20).
 
The setback puts Nicholls at 4-24 on the season and     2-13 in league play. The Colonels wrap up the season Saturday at Central Arkansas.
 
The Lady Demons (14-16, 9-6 SLC) outhit the Colonels, .305-.146, and had six aces to just one for Nicholls. Williams hit .273 in the match en route to her 13th outing of the season with 10 or more kills. Eight of the showings have come in the last 10 matches, including a career-best 20 last weekend against New Orleans. Jade Piper led the offense with 27 assists.
 
Defensively, Emily Venable had a team-high 21 digs and Piper recorded a double-double with 12.
 
Nicholls allowed NSU to go on a 4-0 spurt in the first set, breaking a two-all tie, and the Lady Demons never looked back. The Colonels chipped into the margin only once at 6-3 after a service error before going on to drop the opening set.
 
The second set was the best performance for the Red and Gray, holding leads of 6-3 and 14-11. NSU eventually tied it at 15-all before Williams smashed home a kill to regain the lead for Nicholls. But the Lady Demons answered in a big way, reeling off nine straight points to take a 2-0 advantage.
 
In the final set, Nicholls pulled within one at 15-14 before NSU pieced together a 5-1 run. Sydney Lerille tallied a kill to make the deficit 22-19, but the Lady Demons closed out the match with three of the final four points.
 
NSU was paced by Reagan Rogers with 17 kills. Hannah Brister added 16 and Kathryn Wristen dished out 44 assists.