THIBODAUX, La. - The Nicholls State University volleyball program (3-3) will travel to Jacksonville, AL for the Gamecock Classic, hosted by Jacksonville State University on Sept. 9-10. In the tournament the Colonels will face, Jacksonville State (6-0) at 11 a.m. on Friday, then Samford (3-4) and South Dakota State (4-2) on Saturday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively. Nicholls match against Jacksonville State will be available to stream and watch via ESPN+.

Nicholls Court:

Offensively the Colonels are still led by a multitude of attackers. Leading the way is senior outside hitter Devon Bright who has tallied 71 kills so far this season. Bright's classmate middle Blocker S'mara Riley and sophomore outside hitter Trinity Vinzant have registered 60 and 51 kills, respectively. Both Bright and Vinzant have 10 service aces.  Two Nicholls setters, senior Lilly Bivens and sophomore Kendall Battistella pace the offense with over 100 assists apiece.

Defensively, Nicholls is anchored by sophomore libero Kadie Becnel who has 85 digs on the season. Vinzant and Bright are second and third in digs with 69 and 58, respectively. Four Colonels have double-digit blocks this season, Riley has 18, senior Katie Jones has recorded 13, freshman Paris Dixon has 12, and Bright has claimed 10.
 
Jacksonville State Court:

The Gamecocks are undefeated and have only lost four sets in six matches this season. They have earned power five wins against Indiana (3-0) and Clemson (3-2). Offensively, the attack is led by fifth year outside hitter Lena Kindermann and her classmate middle blocker Katie Montgomery, who have gathered 81 and 56 kills, respectively. Senior outside hitter Kylee Quigley added 11 service aces for the offense. JSU is set up mostly by graduate student Claire Ochs who has registered 230 assists.

Defensively, the Gamecocks are spearheaded by senior libero Erin Carmichael who has 80 digs so far this season. Also recording over 50 digs is Ochs (56) and sophomore defensive specialist Brooklyn Schiffli (53). JSU has four individuals with at least 10 blocks. Senior outside hitter Zoe Gonzales leads the way with 25, while Montgomery, Kindermann, and Ochs add 16, 12, and 10, respectively.
 
Samford Court:

The Bulldogs lost to Kennesaw State earlier this week, however they are coming off an undefeated weekend at the UAB Open where they took down Little Rock, Jackson State, and UAB. The Samford attack features three main outside hitting attackers. Fifth year Lauren Deaton leads the way with 83 kills, followed by junior Kenya McQuirter (68) and sophomore Gracie Lynn Butler (63). Like the Gamecocks, the Bulldogs offense is setup mostly by one player with junior setter Kayla Keshock tallying 230 assists thus far.

Defensively sophomore defensive specialist Kate Morgan has tallied 86 digs while Butler and Deaton have registered 57 and 56 up to this point. The Bulldogs have four individuals with double-digit blocks. Junior middle blocker Kate Wonus is the leader with 18, Butler and freshman middle blocker Greer Golden have 16 apiece, and Keshock has 11.
 
South Dakota State Court:

The Jackrabbits boast a two-match win streak coming into the weekend after winning the second leg of a double header with Eastern Washington on Saturday and beating Chicago State on Tuesday. The driving force to SDSU's attack is fifth year outside hitter Crystal Burk who has 117 kills on the season. Sophomore setter Raegen Reilly paces the offense with 240 assists.

Defensively, Burk has 92 digs, while Reilly and freshman outside hitter Katie Van Egdom has 68 and 63, respectively.  The Jackrabbits have five individuals that have tallied at least 10 blocks. Fifth year middle blocker Sydney Andrews (28), senior middle blocker Anna Nerad (17), sophomore Elyse Winter, while Burk and Reilly have 12 each.                               
 
UP NEXT
After closing out the weekend against Jacksonville State, Samford, and South Dakota State, the Red & Gray will travel to Laramie, WY, to compete in the UNIWYO Invite, hosted by the University of Wyoming on Sept. 15-16.

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).

The Colonels travel to Jacksonville, AL to compete in the Gamecock Classic.#geauxcolonels #nthistogetHER#NCAAWVB #southland60 pic.twitter.com/EhChIInkdK

— Nicholls Volleyball (@Nicholls_VB) September 8, 2022