THIBODAUX, La. -- In spite of a trio of impressive double-double performances from Emily Gauthreaux (20 kills/10 digs), Devon Bright (18 kills/12 digs) and Lilly Bivens (41 assists/10 digs), the Nicholls State University indoor volleyball program (7-6, 0-1 SLC) struggled to close out sets late in the team's Southland debut against in-state rival New Orleans (1-8, 1-0 SLC), dropping a hard-fought match to the Privateers by a final 3-1 mark early Saturday afternoon at Stopher Gym in Thibodaux, La.

KEY STORYLINES & STATISTICS
-- Throughout all three sets the Colonels eventually lost, the Red & Gray managed to consistently jump out to notable advantages on the scoreboard only to falter deep into each frame, dropping the opening pair by just two points apiece while even pushing the fourth into extra play before UNO sealed the victory. Coincidentally, Nicholls fell behind by as many as five points in the lone set the squad pulled out, surging late for the comeback win.
-- Individually, both Gauthreaux and Bright easily set season-highs for kills, combining for an impressive 38 on the day, while the latter even clinched a new career-best by a wide margin (previous high of 9 kills). Bivens, meanwhile, picked up her second 40-plus assist match of the year, pacing the team in the category for the 12th time of the fall campaign. Additionally, the trio of elite outings granted Bivens her fifth double-double of the season -- a squad-best -- while Gauthreaux notched her fourth and Bright her second.
-- Defensively, senior Kylie Lockhart set the tone in the trenches for the Colonels, leading the way with a team-high 28 digs; further, Bright and redshirt junior S'mara Riley put together a solid blocking effort, composing a joint eight for the match.

UP NEXT
With league play officially kicked off, the Red & Gray head right back out onto the road for a weekend of away action, initially traveling to McNeese on Thursday, Sept. 30 take take on the Cowgirls before trekking across state lines for a clash with Houston Baptist on Saturday, Oct. 2.

STAY SOCIAL
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