THIBODAUX, La. – After winning five consecutive games, the Nicholls State University volleyball team (9-1) will host Alcorn State University inside Stopher Gym on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 4 p.m.
 
Nicholls enters the week on fire after going 4-0 and only dropping one set in the SLC-SWAC Challenge. The Colonels are having one of the best starts in program history as they have won their second most non-conference games to open a season.
 
The Red & Gray offense is paced by setter Isabella Padilla who was named honorable mention for SLC setter of the week. She has 248 assists and ranks second in assists per set (9.54) in the SLC. Padilla is usually setting up multiple teammates as the unit strives for a balanced attack.
 
However, this past weekend the unit relied on outside hitter Tamara Chavez to spearhead the attack. Chavez led the Colonels offense during an action-packed week where she totaled 87 kills while hitting .323 from the floor. This included an impressive 29 kill performance while she hit .411 from the floor in a win over Arkansas- Pine Bluff. Chavez added 31 digs, six total blocks, and four service aces to her week's stat line.
 
After posting two double-doubles this during her outstanding week, the Lima, Peru native, sits atop the SLC in kills per set (4.68) and points per set (5.10). For her effort she was named Co-MVP and to the All-Tournament team for the 2025 SLC-SWAC Challenge and she is the first Colonel VB player to earn a weekly honor since 2022. For her efforts in the tournament she was named Co-MVP and earned Southland Conference Offensive Player of the week.
 
The Colonels' defense has been stout the first 10 games of the season. The unit is anchored by libero Karina Smith who has 95 digs. She is followed by Ava-Claire Calais and Padilla who have tallied 75 and 71 digs, respectively.
 
At the net, middle blocker Harper Holden has been a force on both sides of the ball for the Colonels as she leads the unit with 38 blocks. After her outstanding week where she tallied 16 blocks and 13 kills, she ranks third in hitting percentage (.362) and sixth in the SLC in blocks per set (1.08).