Brieanna Hill
0
Nicholls NICH 2-9
3
Winner UT Martin UTM 5-6
Nicholls NICH
2-9
0
Final
3
UT Martin UTM
5-6
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Nicholls NICH 19 18 22 (0)
UT Martin UTM 25 25 25 (3)
0
Nicholls NICH 2-10
3
Winner Memphis MEM 6-5
Nicholls NICH
2-10
0
Final
3
Memphis MEM
6-5
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Nicholls NICH 20 22 21 (0)
Memphis MEM 25 25 25 (3)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball |

Colonels drop two matches in Memphis Invitational Friday

Tournament Central

MEMPHIS – The Nicholls State University volleyball squad fell in straight sets to the University of Tennessee Martin and the University of Memphis Friday in the opening day of the Memphis Invitational at Roane Fieldhouse.

UT-Martin 3, Nicholls 0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-22)

Senior middle blocker Sydney Lerille and freshman Imanie Williams paced Nicholls with seven kills apiece against UT-Martin.

The Colonels were down by just one point at 11-10 in the first set when the Skyhawks made a 4-1 run. Nicholls bounced back with back-to-back kills from freshman Imanie Williams and senior Stephanie Tobison before UTM tallied five of the next six to take control of the frame.

Senior middle blocker Emily Weimer fired three kills on five attempts in the second stanza, but the Skyhawks seized the momentum by capturing six of the first seven points. The Colonels brought it to four at 22-18 before UTM pushed three consecutive points to close the set.

After going down 5-3 in the deciding set, Nicholls ripped off five straight thanks to kills from junior setter Jade Piper and Williams to take an 8-5 edge. The Colonels led 10-7 later in the set when Skyhawks middle blocker Jemima Idemudia took over with two assisted blocks and a kill during a 5-0 run. Nicholls was never able to regain the lead from that point, despite a four-point spurt that tied the frame at 20.

 Memphis 3, Nicholls 0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-21)

Junior right-side hitter Brieanna Hill recorded a team-high 10 kills as the Colonels (2-10) scored 20-plus points in all three frames against the Memphis Tigers (6-5).

Sophomore libero Emily Venable secured 23 digs, the most in a three-set match by a Nicholls student-athlete since Kalynn Egea versus Stephen F. Austin on Nov. 21, 2014.

The Colonels gave up seven of the first 10 points en route to a 16-7 line for Memphis in the first set. The Tigers collected 19 kills to take a 1-0 advantage.

Trailing 19-13 in the second, Nicholls took advantage of three Memphis errors during a five-point barrage.  The Tigers scored the next three points and eventually took the set.

Memphis totaled five of its 10 blocks in the final period. When the Colonels came within one at 21-20, the Tigers found four of the next five points to close the match.

Nicholls concludes the Memphis Invitational Saturday at noon against Louisiana-Monroe.

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