THIBODAUX, La.- The Nicholls State University indoor volleyball team will begin year four under head coach Kallie Noble on Friday, in the Tiger Brawl tournament, hosted by the University of Memphis. In the tournament, the Colonels will face Memphis on Friday at 12:00 p.m. and then play matches against Southern and Central Michigan on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., respectively.

The Colonels will be without major contributors from last season, losing seniors Kylie Lockhart, Aaliyah Burras, and Emily Gauthreaux. Offensively, seniors S'mara Riley and Devon Bright are primed to take over the attacking role for the Colonels as they both recorded more than 150 kills last season. Also looking to shoulder some of the offensive workload will be graduate student Katie Jones, who recorded 89 kills last season.

Defensively, senior setter Lilly Bivens finished the season second on the team with 232 digs and she looks to build on that alongside defensive specialist Kadie Becnel, who will see time as the libero. Burras led the Colonels with 92 blocks, but Riley was just behind her finishing the season with 70, and should have more opportunities this season. Also providing height in the middle will be junior middle blocker Jhayla Bolden.

For Nicholls, they welcome nine new players to the fold, including a graduate transfer from East Carolina, setter Janiece Jefferies. Last season at ECU, Jefferies tallied 401 assists and 150 digs. Also joining the Colonels is sophomore outside hitter Trinity Vinzant. She recorded 114 kills and 144 digs during her freshman campaign at Tarleton State.

Joining the indoor unit from the beach squad will be junior Kennedi Steele and sophomore Aspen Steele. The Henderson, Nev. natives transferred from Pepperdine and Little Rock, respectively, to play indoor, however, they enrolled at Nicholls in January 2021 and competed in the spring on the sand. Other newcomers include a transfer from Louisiana Kendall Battistella, and freshmen Mackenzie Pryor, Gabrielle Barth, Paris Dixon, and Taylor Heeb.

The Colonels are looking to start the season on the right foot before returning home to host the 2022 Colonel Classic tournament that will feature Southern, UC-San Diego, and Southern Illinois.

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