Nicholls Volleyball 2017 Quick Facts | Live Stats (USM), (Miami), (JSU)

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Nicholls State University volleyball squad will play in its first regular season matches this weekend at the 10th-annual Southern Miss Invitational which will commence Friday at Reed Green Coliseum.

The Colonels will face host Southern Miss Friday at 10 a.m. and then close Saturday with Miami (Fla.) and Jackson State at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.

Nicholls returns three starters, senior middles Sydney Lerille and Emily Weimer and senior outside hitter Stephanie Tobison, plus junior libero Alexa Perry, from last year's team.

Among the three offensive starters returning, Tobison carried the workload, tallying 2.4 points and 2.1 kills per set. Weimer concluded the 2016 season with the second-best hitting percentage in the Southland Conference at .323. Standing 6-1, Lerille is in prime position to up her production from last season.

Perry contributed 4.4 digs per set, cementing herself as a top-tier defensive specialist in the league. As a team, the Colonels recorded 16.3 digs per set, ranking 51st in Division I and in the upper echelon of the SLC.

With that foundation to build on, sophomore right-side Brieanna Hill will also be heavily relied on, hoping to fill the void left by former right-side hitter Kali Schwartz.

Head coach Tommy Harold deemed the setter position "wide open." Junior Jade Piper, sophomore Emily Venable and freshman Meghan Wozniak will all likely see the court at the setter position during non-conference play.

Southern Miss
Friday, Aug. 25 | 2 p.m.

The Golden Eagles were chosen to finish fourth in the Conference USA preseason poll and return two all-conference players in setter Sarah Bell and outside Catherine Repsher, the 2016 C-USA Freshman of the Year.

Southern Miss finished second in the conference last season with an 11-3 record and ended its run in the semifinals of the C-USA Tournament in a five-set loss to Rice.

Miami
Saturday, Aug. 26 | 10 a.m.

The Hurricanes return 13 players from last year's team including preseason All-ACC senior outside hitter Olga Strantzali and junior setter Haley Templeton.
Strantzali ranked atop the ACC last season in aces per set (0.4), attacks per set (11.8), kills per set (4.8) and points per set (5.4). Templeton returns to the lineup after sitting out majority of 2016 due to injury.

Miami totaled 11 wins away from home last season including a 4-2 mark in neutral site matches.

Jackson State
Saturday, Aug. 26 | 2 p.m.

The Lady Tigers feature a 2017 preseason All-SWAC First Team defensive specialist in Tyler Moorer. However, JSU must find replacements for all-conference middle Kianna Shelton and key hitters Tamisha Berry and Desiree Mack. The Lady Tigers have won three SWAC titles (2015, 2012, 2011) in the last six years.

Nicholls holds a 13-1 record against JSU, including an 11-game winning streak.

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