THIBODAUX, La. -- The Nicholls State University women's volleyball program finalized its 2019 schedule Monday afternoon, solidifying a strong non-conference slate with just under three months until first serve. The Colonels open the season on Aug. 30 at the Mercer Bears Classic -- the first of four preseason tournaments -- before shifting focus to Southland Conference play on Sept. 26, traveling to in-state rival New Orleans to battle the Privateers.

With new head coach Kallie Noble at the helm, Nicholls managed to secure the program's first Thibodaux-based tournament since 2011, opening the home slate with the Colonels Classic on Sept. 6 and Sept. 7 against Alcorn State. During the 2011 preseason round-robin of the same name, the Red & Gray composed a four-match sweep of visiting competition, defeating South Alabama, Jackson State, Southern and Alabama State; the following year, however, proved not so fortunate, as the 2012 Bayou Invitational was forced to cancel due to Hurricane Isaac striking the Gulf Coast less than a week prior to the scheduled start date.

"The opportunity to open our home schedule with the first Nicholls-hosted tournament since 2011 has the whole squad really excited," Noble said. "We're looking forward to writing a new chapter in Colonels Volleyball, and this schedule offers solid competition throughout the season as our young team works to improve from the ground up and challenge for a conference tournament seed."

Following the Sept. 26 visit to UNO for the Southland opener, Nicholls returns to Thibodaux in back-to-back home matchups against in-state opponents McNeese (Sept. 28) and Southeastern Louisiana (Oct. 1). Notable league contests include home games with Abilene Christian (Oct. 10), Central Arkansas (Oct. 31) and UNO (Nov. 7) as well as road matchups at Stephen F. Austin (Oct. 17) and Sam Houston State (Oct. 26).

Nicholls wraps up the 2019 regular season schedule on Nov. 14 against Houston Baptist, hosting the Huskies on Senior Day before potentially advancing to the Southland Conference Tournament in Conway, Ark.

For more details, check out the full 2019 women's volleyball schedule HERE.

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