SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- For the third time this season already, and second within the past nine days, the Nicholls State University volleyball program (0-7, 0-6 SLC) proved unable to close out a hard-fought rally after battling back from an early deficit, handing Southland adversary UIW (2-5, 2-3 SLC) a tight 3-2 match victory Saturday morning at the McDermott Center after surrendering the decisive fifth set by a 15-8 margin.

KEY STORYLINES & STATISTICS (L 2-3)
-- The Cardinals bolted out to a quick two-set advantage with wins by six and three points, respectively, across the opening frames, and even came close to earning the sweep late in the third as the match tied at both 21, 24 and 25 points apiece before consecutive kills by Katie Jones and Devon Bright sealed the set for the Colonels. The Red & Gray picked up momentum in the fourth frame, grabbing a lead they would not give up at 4-3 and wrapping up a 25-21 victory, but failed to carry that same energy into the fifth, falling behind by three early and never managing to recover.
-- Individually, junior Katie Jones lit up the scoreboard for the Colonels throughout the match, posting a career-high in both kills (21) and hitting percentage (.405) behind an incredibly efficient performance. Overall, the Texas native finished with just four total errors across 42 attacks while also contributing six digs, two assists and one block.
-- Meanwhile, fellow junior Aaliyah Burras logged a career-tying effort in her specialty category: blocks, picking up seven for the day to go along with her solid 11 kills on a .474 hitting percentage. Junior Emily Gauthreaux rounded out the double-digit scorers for the Red & Gray with 11 kills as well, notching her third double-double of the season along the way behind a squad second-best 11 digs.
-- Flying under the radar, senior Meghan Wozniak earned her keep with year-best 39 assists and just four errors, good for her fourth match this season pacing the team in the statistic. The Illinois import also secured a double-double of her own, pairing her 39 assists with 10 digs.
-- Defensively, junior libero Kylie Lockhart led the team for the sixth time this year in digs, racking up 22 for the contest.
 
UP NEXT
With four of the last five league matches taking place out on the road, the Colonels gladly embrace the team's return to the warm confines of Stopher Gym for a four-match home stand, opening the stretch with a weekend pairing against Stephen F. Austin on Thursday, Mar. 11 before facing Lamar on Saturday, Mar. 13.

STAY SOCIAL
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