THIBODAUX, La. -- Despite a strong performance across the board, the Nicholls State University women's volleyball program (7-7, 1-2 Southland) came up slightly short in Tuesday evening's league match against rival Southeastern Louisiana (8-9. 3-1 Southland), falling to the Lady Lions by a 16-14 margin in a decisive fifth set at Stopher Gym in Thibodaux, La.

KEY STORYLINES & STATISTICS (L 2-3)
-- Despite the loss, the Colonels managed a notably potent statistical showing versus the Lady Lions, outpacing SLU in total kills (55-to-47), blocks (15-to-12), assists (48-to-43) and digs (61-to-59). The only major category the Red & Gray trailed in (service aces, 10-to-7 SLU favor) acted as the difference in the match's deciding points, as back-to-back aces sealed the victory for Southeastern Louisiana in the fifth.
-- Beyond the tight fifth (16-14), both squads found general success in the preceding four sets, winning by an average of 6.25 points with the closest margin of victory coming by four in the second (25-21, Nicholls win).
-- Individually, sophomore RS Katie Jones flourished behind her 18 kill, four block performance, wrapping up the contest with an impressive .297 hitting percentage. Junior OH Kate Hoerdemann & fellow sophomore OH Emily Gauthreaux also posted double-digit kill numbers, combining for 23 on the night. Hoerdemann also contributed a team-high 20 digs while Gauthreaux notched three solo blocks herself.
-- Junior Meghan Wozniak picked up a match-high 42 assists for the game.
-- Defensively, senior L Emily Venable accounted for 18 digs, pushing her career statistic in the category to 1,059. Currently, the senior sits just 48 out from breaking into the program's Top Five all-time list for total digs and just under 400 from claiming the school record (1,454; Dani Daigle, 2008-10).
-- Sophomore Aaliyah Burras found some rhythm as the Red & Gray's top blocker, registering five solo & two assists for the night to go along with her seven kills and two digs.

UP NEXT
With the two-match home stand concluded, the Red & Gray turn their attention to a quick roadtrip just across state lines against Houston Baptist, squaring off against the Huskies on Thursday, Oct. 3 at 6:30 p.m. in Houston, Texas.

STAY SOCIAL
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