BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- A year removed from an 0-18 finish in the sport's inaugural season, the Nicholls State University beach volleyball team (1-3, 0-0 Southland) upended expectations on the final day of the season-opening Blazer Beach Bash tournament, orchestrating a 5-0 sweep of Eastern Kentucky (0-4) -- the program's first-ever victory -- before falling by a 5-0 margin to in-state opponent Louisiana-Monroe (2-7, 0-4 CCSA) at the UAB Beach Volleyball Courts in Birmingham, Ala.

"The entire weekend was a truly positive experience for this program," head coach Kallie Noble. "We were able pick up the program's first-ever victory while getting an idea of what we can improve on moving into the substance of the season."

vs. EASTERN KENTUCKY (W 5-0)
-- Kylie Lockhart/Emily Gauthreaux (NICH) def. Sydney Schoen/K. Caserma-Kloeble (EKU) 21-16, 21-23
-- Emily Venable/Jackie Alanis (NICH) def. Kaylin Johnson/Kennedy Wilson (EKU) 21-13, 21-11 3
-- Devon Bright/Bailey Lyons (NICH) def. Rachel Woody/Mikayla Logan (EKU) 21-13, 21-19
-- Katie Jones/Jaida Felix (NICH) def. Lindsey Wilkins/Adria Hartley (EKU) 21-19, 21-15
-- Meghan Wozniak/Halee Brewer (NICH) def. Raegan Alexander/Jovana Bulatovic (EKU) 21-16, 21-17

vs. LOUISIANA-MONROE (L 0-5)
-- Love, Gabby/Gallant, Kayla (ULM) def. Kylie Lockhart/Emily Gauthreaux (NICH) 21-8, 21-17
-- Convey, Grace/Blazek, Julia (ULM) def. Emily Venable/Jackie Alanis (NICH) 21-8, 21-16
-- Brooks, Audrey/Ponthieux, Holland (ULM) def. Devon Bright/Bailey Lyons (NICH) 21-19, 21-10
-- Moreland, Elizabeth/Elder, Abbie (ULM) def. Katie Jones/Jaida Felix (NICH) 21-8, 21-18
-- Gosen, Ina/Smith, Bailey (ULM) def. Meghan Wozniak/Lilly Bivens (NICH) 21-9, 21-8
 
UP NEXT
The Red & Gray take the next week to prepare for their second tournament of the young season, traveling to the UNO Beach Volleyball Invitational for a four-match slate, set for Friday, Mar. 6 through Saturday, Mar. 7 in Covington, La.

STAY SOCIAL
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