THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University volleyball team begins Southland Conference play in their home opener on Thursday Sept. 21 against HCU inside Stopher Gym. Then the team hits the road to battle Northwestern State (Sept. 23) and McNeese (Sept. 26).
NICHOLLS COURT (2-8)
The Colonels are coming into the action on a three-match losing streak including two matches at the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Volleyball against Louisiana and Prairie View A&M.
Nicholls is led by a pair of two-way standouts. Freshman outside hitter
Autumn Perry leads the team with 86 kills and 13 service aces while ranking third digs (75) and blocks (20). Junior outside hitter
Trinity Vinzant leads the team in digs with 89 and has the second most kills (69).
The Red and Gray defense is anchored by a pair of middle blockers and a solid libero. Sophomore
Paris Dixon leads the unit in blocks with 28, followed by senior
Jhayla Bolden who has 21, and sophomore libero
Gabrielle Barth has registered 88 digs.
HCU COURT (5-7)
The Huskies come into matchup fresh off a 3-1 victory at Tulane on Sept. 16. HCU presents a stout defense that leads the SLC in opponent hitting percentage (.197) and third in blocks with 97 total.
The squad is led by middle blocker Audrey Pearce who has a team-high 51 blocks and 109 kills. Cassidy Drapela leads the unit with 123 kills and Sara Arroyo has registered 98 kills. Lexie Temple is second on the team in blocks with 34 followed by Ana Garza who has 27.
NORTHWESTERN STATE COURT (5-7)
The Lady Demons are currently on a five-match winning streak and play UNO on Thursday before hosting the Colonels on Saturday. NSU has an elite defensive unit that leads the SLC in total blocks (104) and is second in the league in digs per set (15.80).
NSU's offense is spearheaded by Teresa Garza and Tessa Gerwig who have recorded 96 and 92 kills, respectively. They have a pair of setters, Piper Boydstun and Amina Attra pace the offense with 185 and 167 assists. Their defense is anchored by Reaghan Thompson who has tallied 58 blocks and Ashlynn Svoboda who has claimed 171 digs.
McNEESE COURT (3-11, 1-0 SLC)
Last time out, the Cowgirls beat in-state foe ULM 3-1 and is battling UNO on Saturday before facing the Colonels on Tuesday. McNeese sits fourth in the SLC in hitting percentage (.187) and kills per set (11.89).
The Cowgirls have four attackers with more than 100 kills. Carissa Chainey leads the way with 150, followed by McKenzie Moore (144), Kayla Wilson (124), and Sanni Rantannen (104). Their primary setter is Megan Grose who has 450 assists. Defensively, Moore and Rantannen lead the squad with 32 and 31 blocks, respectively while Baliey Tillman has a team-high 211 digs.
UP NEXT
The Red & Gray return home to battle Southeastern and UIW inside Stopher Gym on Spet. 28 and Sept. 30.
STAY SOCIAL
For more information on Colonels follow them on Twitter (
@Nicholls_VB), Instagram (
@nicholls_vb), and like their Facebook page (
Nicholls Volleyball).
