HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Following a tumultuous offseason featuring a slew of postponements and delays, the Nicholls State University women's volleyball program (0-0, 0-0 SLC) finally returns to the hardwood Tuesday afternoon in the 2020 campaign opener, trekking northeast over state lines for the team's lone non-conference match of the year at Southern Mississippi (4-2, 0-0 C-USA), first serve set for 5 p.m. at Reed Green Coliseum.

Despite a much-improved 2019 season for the Colonels, including a program-record 6-0 start and the most wins (11) since 2012, second-year head coach Kallie Noble remains intent on pushing the Red & Gray forward and back into the postseason for the first time in over five years. Handling the dirty work, however, will be a slew of returning starters from the 2019 campaign's highly-competitive squad, including seniors S Meghan Wozniak (940 assists) and OH Kate Hoerdemann (166 kills, 229 digs) along with juniors OH Emily Gauthreaux (296 kills, 34 aces), MB Aaliyah Burras (230 kills, 83.0 blocks) and RS Katie Jones (277 kills).

WHAT: Nicholls at Southern Mississippi
WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 2 | 5 p.m.
WHERE: Reed Green Coliseum | Hattiesburg, Miss.
MEDIA: Live Stats (TBA) | Watch

COMPLETE PROGRAM BREAKDOWN
Roster | Schedule | Quick Facts
 

• Kallie Noble enters her second season leading the Colonels, and currently sports a 11-16 (5-11) overall record with the Red & Gray.
• The team boasts four seniors: S Meghan Wozniak, MB Lydia Frederick, OH Kate Hoerdemann and OH Olivia Turner.
• This year's roster is highlighted by four newcomers, as senior OH Olivia Turner (Northern Arizona) and junior MB Nina Finderle (Polk State) joined the program as transfers while freshmen MB Jhayla Bolden and RS Yani Johnson signed on directly from high school.
• This season's depth chart features five players from across the state of Louisiana, four out of Texas, a pair from Illinois and one from each of the following: Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Missouri and even Croatia.
• The Colonels were projected to finish 10th in the Southland Conference, per the league's preseason poll.
• Nicholls returns five of last season's seven starters, including seniors S Meghan Wozniak and OH Kate Hoerdemann along with juniors OH Emily Gauthreaux, MB Aaliyah Burras and RS/OH Katie Jones.

UP NEXT
After kicking off the season with the lone non-conference match of the year at Southern Mississippi, the Colonels quickly turn their attention to Southland play in the team's home opener against New Orleans, hosting the Privateers at Stopher Gym on Thursday, Feb. 4, first serve set for 7 p.m.

STAY SOCIAL
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