THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University volleyball team was outlasted by HCU in five sets in Thibodaux on Thursday night.
The first set saw the Huskies jump out to a quick 7-3 advantage before the Colonels answered with a seven-point run to make the score 10-7, Nicholls. The rest of the set was a back-and-forth affair that HCU won 26-24.
In the following set, Nicholls went on two different four-point runs to eventually win the set, 25-21. In the third set, the Huskies went on a four and a-five-point run to run away with the set, 25-14.
The fourth set was intense after HCU used a four-point run to take the lead 20-16, Nicholls scored nine of the final 12 points to claw back and take the set 25-23. In the fifth set, the Huskies took the first six points to take the momentum and run away with the set 15-8.
The Red & Gray offense featured three attackers that finished with double-digit kills. Leading the way was senior outside hitter Devon Bright, who finished the match with 13 kills, while senior middle blocker S'mara Riley and sophomore outside hitter Trinity Vinzant recorded 12 and 10, respectively. Senior outside hitter Katie Jones and junior middle blocker Jhayla Bolden added nine and six kills to the scoring.
Vinzant stuffed the stat sheet to claim her sixth double-double of the season, adding five service aces and 16 digs. The Nicholls attack was paced nicely by setters senior Lilly Bivens and freshman Taylor Heeb who tallied 23 assists apiece. Heeb earned the first career double-double of her career, finishing the match with 10 digs.
The Colonel defense was anchored by sophomore libero Kadie Becnel, who finished the match with 21 digs. Jones and Bivens added 13 and eight digs defensively. The unit had 10 block assists, Riley registered four, Bolden tallied three, freshman middle blocker Paris Dixon finished with two, and Jones had one. Dixon and Bolden claimed the Colonels' only solo blocks.
UP NEXT
The Colonels return to action at Stopher Gym as they host the Cardinals of UIW on Saturday, Oct. 22, at 11 am.
STAY SOCIAL
For more information on Colonels Indoor & Beach Volleyball, follow both teams on Twitter (@Nicholls_VB), Instagram (@nicholls_vb), and like their Facebook page (Nicholls Volleyball).
