HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Nicholls State University volleyball team began its season by splitting a pair of matches against Sam Houston State and Portland at the Bearkat Invitational inside Johnson Coliseum on Friday.

The Colonels opened up the season with a 3-1 loss to host Sam Houston and then finished the day by beating Portland by the same score for head coach Jonea Rima's first Division I victory. The Red & Gray will conclude their play in Huntsville on Saturday, August 26 against Oral Roberts at 1:30 pm.

MATCH ONE: at Sam Houston State (L 3-1) (15-25, 25-27,14-25, 17-25)

Sam Houston won the first set behind 10 Nicholls errors before the Colonels bounced back and took the back and forth thrilling second set.

Behind their highest hitting percentage of the day, the Colonels generated two six-point leads including a 19-13 advantage. Despite a late Bearkat rally, sophomore outside hitter Mackenzie Pryor had a kill to break a 25-all tie before a Bearkat error ended the set.

Sam Houston cruised in the third set for their second double digit victory. In the final stanza the teams battled to a 16-16 tie before the Bearkats took the momentum and closed the match on a 9-1 run.

Freshman outside hitter had an impressive debut, finishing the contest with 11 kills and 13 digs to earn her first career double-double. She also had a match-high three service aces and three blocks.

Junior outside hitter Trinity Vinzant led the Colonels with 12 kills, while sophomore middle blocker Paris Dixon tallied a match-high five block and six kills. The Red & Gray attack was paced by setters junior Kendall Battistella and freshman Berra Soyler who combined for 28 assists.

MATCH TWO: vs. Portland (W 3-1) (25-22, 25-9, 15-25, 25-23)

After a dominant 25-9 performance in the second set gave Nicholls a 2-0 advantage, the Pilots responded by taking the third set, however, the Red & Gray defense prevailed and lifted Nicholls to a 3-1 victory.

Multiple Colonels chipped into the stout defensive effort that led to Portland hitting .078 for the match. After posting a .195 in their opening win over fellow Southland Conference opponent Texas A&M Corpus-Christi. Portland had 38 attacking errors helped by 12 blocks by the Colonels which matches their high from last season in a four-set contest.

Senior middle blocker Jhayla Bolden recorded a career-high nine blocks. Freshman outside hitter Addison Phares and Vinzant each had four blocks, while Perry and Dixon finished with three blocks apiece. Sophomore defensive specialist Gabrielle Barth chipped in with 10 digs and added a match-high three service aces.

The Colonel attack was spearheaded by Perry (11) and Vinzant (10) who both posted double figure kills for the second consecutive match. The offense was paced by Battistella (13) and Soyler (7) who combined for 20 assists. Battistella was also two digs shy of a double-double and Soyler finished with seven digs.
  
STAY SOCIAL
For more information on Colonels Volleyball, follow them on Twitter (@Nicholls_VB), Instagram (@nicholls_vb), and like their Facebook page (Nicholls Volleyball).