No. 7 Seed Nicholls, No. 5 Seed UIW Advance to the Quarterfinal Matches
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HOUSTON – Match one of the Southland Conference Volleyball Tournament was decided in four sets, as No. 7 seed Nicholls outmatched No. 6 seed Northwestern State with a 3-1 victory in the opening round of play. No. 5 seed UIW took match two in a five-set thriller over No. 8 seed New Orleans with a 3-2-win Thursday in Sharp Gym.
Match 1: No. 7 Nicholls 3, No. 6 Northwestern State 1
The Colonels built steam from the opening serve, averaging a combined .211 hitting percentage over the first two sets, holding NSU to a combined 22 points along the way. Kylie Lockhart was effective on defense recording 17 digs and limiting the Lady Demons to a .046 hitting percentage.
Northwestern State refused to go down easily, however, clawing their way back to a 25-23 win in set three behind a kill from Ashlyn Svoboda. NSU hit for a combined 41.7 percent recording 16 kills to reinvigorate the Lady Demons and force a fourth set.
Emily Gauthreaux responded in the final set, effectively putting an end to the Lady Demons’ comeback bid, recording nine kills to secure the 25-20 fourth-set victory. Gauthreaux was explosive on offense for Nicholls, combining for 18 kills, four service aces and a pair of blocks in the match. Lockhart led the way on defense for the Colonels with 32 digs, while Aaliyah Burras’ presence at the net resulted in four blocks
Following the win, Nicholls advances to the quarterfinals for a matchup against No. 3 seed McNeese. First serve between the Colonels and Cowgirls is slated for 12 p.m. CT Friday afternoon inside Sharp Gym and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Match 2: No. 8 New Orleans 2, No. 5 UIW 3
UIW’s senior outside hitter Bethany Clapp logged a double-double performance with 13 digs and 14 kills for the Cardinals. Natalie Martin also made her presence known for UIW with 36 assists. Five Cardinals recorded double digit points in match two.
New Orleans’ Trinity Jackson recorded double-double figures with 12 kills and 16 digs.
UNO claimed the opening set 26-24 over UIW following 13 team kills and three service aces by the Privateers. UIW responded taking the second set 25-21 limiting UNO to a .164 hitting percentage. Clapp led the Cardinals offensively through the second set recording 10 kills to tie the match up 1-1.
The third and fourth sets proved to be a fight till the very end as both sides traded points, each claiming a set forcing a fifth and final set. The final set fell into place for UIW as they used a three-point streak to grab a 15-12 win over UNO.
For the first time in program history UIW will head to the quarterfinal round, taking on No. 4 seed Southeastern in the second match on Friday at 12 p.m. on ESPN+.
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