LAFAYETTE, La. – The Nicholls State University volleyball team dropped straight-set decisions to the University of Houston and the University of Louisiana Lafayette Friday in the first day of the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic at Earl K. Long Gym.  

The Colonels are now 1-5 on the season and close the tournament against Mississippi Valley State Saturday at 2 p.m.

Nicholls fell 25-13, 25-20, 25-16 to the Cougars (5-0). UH posted a .330 attacking percentage, spearheaded by Megan Duncan's 11 kills.

Sophomore Sydney Swann fronted the Colonels offense with six kills. Nicholls grabbed a 6-1 advantage in the second set with the help of two Swann kills. Still ahead 15-9, the Colonels surrendered eight straight points as part of a 12-1 UH run. The Cougars dominated the final frame, taking 10 of the first 11 points to gain control.

Nicholls performed much better in the second match of the day against host UL-Lafayette, scoring in the 20s in each set (25-21, 26-24, 25-22). Senior Brieanna Hill tied a match-high 10 kills, and fellow senior Jade Piper contributed 28 assists. The Colonels recorded just one less kill than the Ragin' Cajuns (39-38).

The two sides traded six-point runs in the first set to give ULL a 16-14 edge. Nicholls later tallied back-to-back points capped by a service ace from junior Heidi Carpenter to cut it to one at 22-21. The Ragin' Cajuns responded with three in a row to steal the set.

Freshman outside hitter Emily Gauthreaux saw her first action of the season in the second set, smashing two kills in her first two attempts. The Colonels saved three set points at 24-21 but a service error and Desiree Johnson kill gave ULL momentum and 2-0 lead in the match.

Nicholls used kills from Carpenter and freshman Aaliyah Burras to tie the deciding set at 22 before the Ragin' Cajuns capitalized on a service error two consecutive points to seal the match.

The Colonels totaled four service aces to ULL's two but also committed 11 service errors. Piper neared a double-double with 28 assists and nine digs.

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