RUSTON, La. -- The Nicholls State University women's volleyball program (6-1, 0-0 Southland) launched the LA Tech Invitational with a competitive pair of matches on Friday afternoon, initially upending Mississippi Valley State (2-10, 0-0 SWAC) in the tournament opener behind a straight-sets sweep before forcing host Louisiana Tech (5-3, 0-0 C-USA) to a decisive five-set match, falling short in the final set after battling back from an 0-2 deficit in the team's first loss of the season.

GAME ONE vs. MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE (W 3-0)
-- In the first match of the tournament against MVSU, the Red & Gray managed to dictate the rhythm of the match with relative ease, notching the squad's 10th, 11th & 12th consecutive set victories in the 3-0 sweep.
-- Sophomores MB Aaliyah Burras & OH Emily Gauthreaux, along with freshman OH Jackie Alanis, shouldered the majority of the offensive burden, combining on the match for 24 kills with a joint .479 hitting percentage.
-- Meanwhile, junior S Meghan Wozniak continued to work behind the scenes, notching a team-best 25 assists with three kills and five digs.
-- Defensively, senior DS Emily Venable led the way behind 10 digs. As a team, the group totaled 16 blocks in the victory, picking up four apiece from Burras, junior MB Kimberly Iwunze & sophomore OH Katie Jones.

GAME TWO vs. LOUISIANA TECH (L 2-3)
-- After falling in the opening pair of sets by a relatively significant 14 points (25-14, 25-22), the Red & Gray proved their resiliency across the third & fourth, downing the host 25-23 on back-to-back occasions. In the decisive fifth set, the Colonels kept pace with the Lady Techsters until the eighth point, slipping behind as Louisiana Tech pushed ahead by as many as five points (12-7) before sealing the win. 
-- Sophomores Jones (15 kills), Burras (12 kills) & Gauthreaux (11 kills) along with junior Kate Hoerdemann (10 kills) each racked up double-digit kill statistics in the match, clinching just the squad's second time this season (vs. Campbell, Aug. 30) four individuals all surpassed the double-figures mark.
-- Wozniak maintained her strong showing as a setter, posting 32 assists in the tight loss along with four kills & 10 digs.
-- Beyond Wozniak, a trio of players managed to post double-digit dig performances, as Venable & sophomore Kylie Lockhart tied for the team-high at 16 while Hoerdemann secured 15 herself.

UP NEXT
With the tournament's opening pair of matchups in the books, the Colonels set their sights on the team's finale against in-state opponent Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday, Sept. 14, first serve set for 10 a.m. in Ruston, La.

STAY SOCIAL
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