THIBODAUX, La. – Earlier this week, the Nicholls State University volleyball team beat Southern (3-0) at home on Tuesday before being clipped by Grambling (2-3) in a five-set thriller on Thursday night to conclude non-conference play.
 
GAME ONE: Nicholls (3), Southern (0)
 
In Tuesday's sweep of the Lady Jaguars the Colonels tallied 41 kills and hit .225 for match. The unit's best work came in the middle set with 17 kills and .371 percentage.
 
The Red & Gray attack was led by Makila Billingsley who had 14 kills followed by Leah Linares Castro (12) and Tierney Terrell (6). Ava-Claire Calais and Evelyn Trivino Espinosa paced the offense with 22 and 13 assists, respectively.
 
The Colonel defense was anchored by libero Kenley Nonato who had 11 digs while Terrell added seven.  Jordan Gamble led the squad with four blocks while Khara Morton and Billingsley had two apiece.
 
GAME TWO: Nicholls (2), Grambling (3)
 
In Thursday's five set thriller at Grambling, the Colonels fell behind 0-2 before winning closely contested third and fourth stanzas to force a winner takes all fifth set. In the final frame, the Colonels scored three consecutive points to tie the action at 13. The Tigers scored three of the final four points to win 16-14.
 
The Colonel attack was led by Castro who posted 28 kills while Billingsley and Terrell added 15 and eight, respectively. Calais and Espinosa paced the offense with 32 and 18 assists while Nonato had three aces.
 
Defensively, Nonato led the way with 32 digs followed by Terrell (15) and Billingsley (14). Gamble and Castro had six blocks apiece while Billingsley added three.
 
The five non-conference wins are the most by a Colonel squad since 2021 (7).
 
UP NEXT
The Red & Gray (5-6) will open Southland Conference play next week with a home match against HCU pm Thursday, Sept. 26 at 6 pm and a road match at Northwestern State on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 1 pm.