THIBODAUX, La. – Five double-figure scorers were not enough for the Nicholls State University volleyball team who was defeated by New Orleans 3-2 (26-28, 25-21, 21-25, 25-20, 14-16) in an action-packed back and forth contest inside Stopher Gym on Thursday night.

After a 21-21 start to the first set, both teams went on three-point runs to tie the set at 24, before UNO eventually scored three straight to take the set 28-26.

In the second set, UNO jumped out to a 14-13 lead. After that, Nicholls went on a five-point run to go up 17-14 and never looked back and took the set 25-21.

The third stanza saw the squads knotted up at 18 before UNO went on a five-point run and eventually won the set 25-21.

The fourth frame was a roller coaster of events. Nicholls went on an eight-point run and a four-point run to go up 16-7 early. The Privateers then take 11 of the next 14 points to cut the lead to two (20-18 Nicholls), before the Colonels take five of the last six points to win the set 25-20, to force a winner-takes-all fifth set.

In the fifth and final set, the Colonels went on a quick 6-2 run to start the frame. UNO clawed back and tied the set up at 11 and then took five of the final seven points to win 16-14.

The Red & Gray attack featured five players that reached double-figure kills. Leading the way was senior outside hitter Katie Jones who finished the match with 21 kills on a .229 hitting percentage. The 21 kills tied her career high that was set in a match against UIW in 2021.

Senior outside hitter Devon Bright recorded her eighth double-double of the season, posting 16 kills and 19 digs, while sophomore outside hitter Trinity Vinzant picked up her ninth double-double of the season finishing with 11 kills and 20 digs.

Freshman outside hitter Mackenzie Pryor registered 12 kills and senior middle blocker S'mara Riley had 11 on a .269 hitting percentage.

The Colonels' balanced attack was paced by a pair of setters. Senior Lilly Bivens dished out 35 assists, while freshman Taylor Heeb earned the second double-double of her career with a career-high 30 assists and 10 digs.

Riley spearheaded the unit defensively posting a career-high 11 blocks and eight digs to claim her first double-double of the year. Current SLC Defensive Player of the Week sophomore libero Kadie Becnel finished the contest with 21 digs, while Bivens added nine.

The unit stayed active at the net, earning 32 block assists. Freshman middle blocker Paris Dixon remained active tallying five kills and five block assists. Jones added six block assists, Vinzant recorded four, and Bright and Pryor had three apiece to round out the total.

UP NEXT
Nicholls will close out the regular season with a home match against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday, November 12. The Colonels will honor the seniors and the action from Stopher Gym will begin at 11 a.m.

STAY SOCIAL
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