LAKE CHARLES, La. – The Nicholls State University volleyball team dropped a four-set decision to McNeese State University Saturday, 21-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-21, despite solid performances from freshmen Aaliyah Burras, Emily Gauthreaux and Katie Jones.

The trio combined for 31 of the team's 51 kills as Jones led the way with a match-high 14. Gauthreaux added 10 digs for her first career double-double. Junior Heidi Carpenter also converted a double-double, dishing out 22 assists and recording 10 digs. Junior libero Emily Venable totaled a match-high 14 digs.

Senior Brieanna Hill pounded a kill that sparked a 5-0 run for the Colonels (3-17, 1-6 SLC) midway through the first set, giving Nicholls a commanding 16-10 lead that would not be relinquished. Burras and Gauthreaux tagged four kills apiece in the Colonels set one victory.

The Cowgirls (5-13, 3-2 SLC) then relied on Keegan Nelms to pace the squad, and she responded with five kills in the second set, the last of which sparked a four-point scoring barrage to close the set. McNeese grabbed the first three points of the frame and never lost the advantage.

Nelms came up big again in the third set, firing two early kills that lifted the Cowgirls to a 6-1 margin. The Colonels saved four set points at 24-16, but an attack error by Jones resulted in a 2-1 lead for McNeese.

Nicholls pushed hard in the fourth set, scoring five straight down 7-3 to take a one-point lead at 8-7. The Cowgirls countered by tallying four of the next five and never gave up the edge from that point. McNeese hit an impressive .433 (16-3-30) in the deciding set.

Nelms finished with 13 kills and 12 digs for a double-double. The Cowgirls, ranked second in the SLC in blocks per match, held an 11.0-5.0 advantage in that category.

The Colonels return to Thibodaux to face Sam Houston State on Thursday, the first of a two-match home swing. First serve is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

To stay up to date with Nicholls volleyball, follow the team on Instagram and Twitter @Nicholls_VB.