LAFAYETTE, La. – After winning six consecutive contests, the Nicholls State University volleyball team (10-3) wrapped up non-conference action with a pair of losses to Southern (2-3) and Louisiana at the Ragin' Cajun Classic over the weekend.
 
GAME ONE: Nicholls 2, Southern 3 | 26-24, 25-13, 25-27, 22-25, 8-15
 
Both teams started strong as the teams battled to a 26-24 opening frame that set the tone for the back-and-forth thrilling match. Nicholls dominated the second stanza as they hit .222 from the floor while the Jaguars hit -.182 to give the Colonels a 2-0 lead.
 
However, the next two frames were almost identical with the opposite outcome. Southern hit .413 in the third frame to squeak out a narrow 27-25 thrilling set followed by a three-point victory in set four to force a winner takes all fifth stanza. The Jaguars won the final frame as they hit .350 from the floor while the Colonels posted six kills and six attack errors to hit .000.
 
The Colonels offense was paced by setter Isabella Padilla who dished a season best 46 assists. She connected the most with Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week Tamara Chavez who registered 28 kills.  Ana Clara Valentim do Vale added 12 kills while hitting a team best .435 percent. Maelie Chupin chipped in with nine kills while Harper Holden and Alyssa Williams combined for nine kills.
 
In the Colonels' first five set battle of the season, the unit had five players register double figure digs as Olivia Besson led the way with a career best 19. She was followed by Padilla who finished with 18 to claim her third double-double of the season. Ava-Claire Calais and libero Karina Smith added 14 and 13 respectively. Chavez accumulated 12 digs enroute to her third consecutive and fifth overall double-double of the season.
 
The Red & Gray had a trio of blockers that were active at the net throughout the contest. Holden registered two solo blocks and two assisted blocks while Williams had two solo and four assisted blocks. Valentim do Vale finished with five assisted blocks.
 
 
GAME TWO: Nicholls 0, Louisiana 3 | 12-25, 22-25, 15-25
 
The Colonels offensive struggles continued into day two of the tournament as the unit tallied 18 kills (.79). While the Ragin' Cajuns registered 39 kills (.286). The second stanza was back and forth as both teams made mistakes to keep the action close however, Louisiana was efficient in the first (.429) and third (.400) sets to win the frames by a combined 23 points.
 
Padilla paced the offense with 13 assists. Chavez tallied seven kills while Williams abd Valentim do Vale added five and three combined.
Besson anchored the Red & Gray defense with eight digs. Calais and Smith recorded six and five digs respectively while Melanie Guevara and Padilla combined for seven. Chavez and Holden registered two block assists apiece while Guevara had a solo block.
 
Along with the eight sweeps this season, the Colonels have secured the most non-conference victories to start a season since 2011.
 
UP NEXT
The Red & Gray (10-3) will begin Southland Conference action on the road at New Orleans (Sept. 25) and Southeastern (Sept. 27).