THIBODAUX, La. -- Despite a rough opening to Southland Conference play over the first few weeks of competition, the Nicholls State University indoor volleyball program (8-11, 1-6 SLC) seemingly found a workable groove in the team's final pair of home matches for the month of October, initially faltering in a back-and-forth 3-1 match against rival Southeastern (6-12, 5-2 SLC) on Thursday evening before outgunning Northwestern State (8-14, 2-5 SLC) by a 3-1 mark late Saturday afternoon.

KEY STORYLINES & STATISTICS
GAME ONE vs. Southeastern (L 1-3) -- Thursday, Oct. 14
-- In spite of initially bolting out ahead of the Lady Lions with a first set victory, not to mention an 11-0 advantage in the second frame, the Colonels were unable to close out the match win as Southeastern battled back with a serious fury, outpacing the Red & Gray in the second by a four-point margin before securing the victory relatively unopposed during the third (25-20) and fourth (25-13) sets.
-- Individually, senior Aaliyah Burras proved electric for the Colonels both offensively and defensively, racking up a team-high 12 kills in addition to picking up a career-best eight blocks; meanwhile, fellow senior Emily Gauthreaux composed a competitive outing as well, pairing a team-best 12 kills with 10 digs for the Houma native's fifth double-double of the year. Further, junior Lilly Bivens executed well as the squad's primary setter, capturing her ninth double-double of the season behind a 26-assist, 10-dig outing.
-- Defensively, senior Kylie Lockhart served as the top digger for the Colonels throughout the match, logging 25 overall with her nearest teammate locking down 14 (Kate Hoerdemann) for the match.

GAME TWO vs. Northwestern State (W 3-1) -- Saturday, Oct. 16
-- Despite enduring six consecutive losses to open league play, the Red & Gray remained resilient as the team hosted Northwestern State to wrap up a four-match home stretch, putting together one of the team's top overall performances of the campaign en route to the eventual victory. After the Lady Demons managed to knot the contest at one set apiece behind a win in the second frame, Nicholls lashed out with a vengeance, outgunning NSU in the third (25-19) before holding off a late rally in the fourth (25-23) to capture the squad's first win of SLC competition.
-- Individually, Gauthreaux looked in elite form as the senior posted a game-best 24 kills on the night, good for a tie of her previous career high for the category, while tacking on 10 digs for her sixth double-double of the season. Meanwhile, fellow seniors Kate Hoerdemann and Katie Jones impressed on the offensive end as well, recording 15 and 11 kills, respectively, with the former earning her second double-double of the year behind a team-best 26 digs as well.
-- Additionally, Bivens contributed her usual below-the-radar performance as the Colonels' top setter, logging a new career-best 56 assists to go along with 10 digs en route to her 10th double-double of the campaign. Lockhart also put in a strong showing as well, carving out a squad-high 26 digs.
 
UP NEXT
With the four-match home stretch at an end, the Red & Gray return to the road for a trio of league contests, opening up the trip against rival Southeastern on Thursday, Oct. 21 in Hammond, La., first serve set for 6:30 p.m.

STAY SOCIAL
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