THIBODAUX, La. -- Just minutes removed from a brutal fourth set loss and facing a 3-1 deficit in the decisive fifth, the Nicholls State University volleyball program (10-7, 4-2 Southland) turned to sophomore OH Emily Gauthreaux for her serve; the Houma, La. native proceeded to break off six service aces -- five consecutive -- as the Colonels tallied eight successive points against UIW (4-16, 0-6 Southland), surging to a lead they would never surrender as the Red & Gray clinched their third straight Southland victory, a feat not accomplished since the 2015 campaign.

KEY STORYLINES & STATISTICS (W 3-2)
-- Despite overall dominant play from Nicholls through the first two sets (25-21 to Nicholls, 24-26 to UIW), the Colonels founds themselves in a deadlock with the Cardinals entering the third, where the Red & Gray would retake the lead off a 25-19 victory. UIW roared back in the fourth, however, capturing a 25-14 win to force the decisive fifth set; after trailing early, Nicholls jumped out to a sizable advantage behind Gauthreaux's impressive serve streak, ending the match on a 15-8 final tally.
-- Offensively, the Colonels relied on a trio of heavy hitters throughout the match, as junior OH Kate Hoerdemann led the way behind 14 kills while both sophomores MB Aaliyah Burras & Gauthreaux registered 13 kills on the day. Notably, Gauthreaux clocked a highly-efficient .417 hitting percentage in the win, resetting her career best in the category (excluding a .500 performance last season at Lamar where she only received eight total attacks).
-- After missing the cut by just one dig this past Thursday against ACU, junior S Meghan Wozniak racked up a double-double behind a team-high 46 assists and 12 digs.
-- Both Hoerdemann & Gauthreaux finished the match with double-doubles as well, combining their kill statistics with 17 & 11 digs apiece, respectively.
-- Defensively, senior Emily Venable returned as the top Red & Gray digging specialist, pacing the squad with 19 in the match while sophomore DS Kylie Lockhart grabbed nine.

UP NEXT
With the two-match home stand wrapped up, the Colonels pack their bags for the team's longest Southland roadtrip of the season, traveling to Stephen F. Austin & Lamar this upcoming Thursday & Saturday, respectively, before hitting both Texas A&M-Corpus Christi & Sam Houston State the ensuing weekend.

STAY SOCIAL
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