THIBODAUX, La. - The Nicholls State University women's volleyball team will take on Northwestern State Thursday in the opening round of the Southland Conference Tournament. First serve is scheduled for noon at Sharp Gym on the campus of HBU.

All eight teams made the 2021 edition of the tournament, with the No. 7 Colonels (10-16) facing Northwestern State (11-18) for the third time this season. Both teams won at home in the previous meetings this fall. 

Nicholls will be making its first postseason appearance since the 2014 season. 

Emily Gauthreaux heads Kallie Noble's squad after earning All-Southland Second Team earlier on Wednesday. Gauthreaux was one of the top offensive players all season, ranking fifth in the Southland with 3.07 kills per set. She led Nicholls to a four-set victory against the Demons, recording a Southland best 24 kills.

Aaliyah Burras also had a strong season for the Red and Gray, averaging 2.3 kills while hitting .322. Burras led the defense with 80 blocks, followed by 66 from S'mara Riley.

Lilly Bivens has handled the majority of the setting duties at 7.6 assists per set. Brook Weichbrodt had double figures in assists the last two outings, including a 23-assist night against New Orleans.

Defensively, teams hit .232 in conference games against Nicholls. On the season, Kylie Lockhart averaged nearly 5.0 digs per set. She was recognized once this season as Southland Defensive Player of the Week.
 

Postseason begins Thursday #geauxcolonels pic.twitter.com/n58wUEUyAm

— Nicholls Volleyball (@Nicholls_VB) November 18, 2021