Head volleyball coach Chris Laird said his coaching staff has redirected his team’s focus from wins and losses to playing to at its highest level and being successful with its intensity, effort and a will to succeed-all things he said his team can control. With all but one of its preseason tournaments cancelled due to Hurricane Katrina and having its first conference home game against Sam Houston State University moved to Huntsville, Texas, Laird said if his team focuses on playing the best it can, there is a chance for success this season.

“We’ve done that at times,” Laird said of his team playing up to its potential. “We haven’t cemented it though. We’re playing more throughout the set (each game) than we have in the past. We’re confident, and we’re comfortable playing till about the last third of the match. That comes with being in the gym and having a routine.”

Laird said the extended break due to Katrina forced his team to nearly start over almost a third into its season.

Additionally, it was announced in a university press release Oct. 20 that junior middle blocker KaLeigh Butler left the team indefinitely.

“She left for personal reasons,” Laird said. Laird had no other comments on the issue and referred all other comments to Sports information director for women’s athletics Thad Angelloz.

Prior to her departure, Butler led the team in service aces, was third in kills and tied for third in total blocks.

After the Lady Colonels lost their first match 3-0 to Tulane University in the Tulane Tournament on Aug. 26, Hurricanes Katrina struck the Gulf Coast. The effects of the storm cancelled the team’s plans to participate in the Arkansas and University of Texas El-Paso Tournaments and a home match against Arizona State University on Sept. 18.

The Lady Colonels were not able to play another match until Sept. 16 when they opened their conference schedule. Because the displaced evacuees were living in Stopher and Shaver Gyms, the Lady Colonels played their two conference game on the road against Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin State University.

The squad has not been able to win a match this season and has only won two games in the 10 matches it has been able to play. Sophomore setter Cassey Wirwille said all the team has been through has been a source of motivation to win.

“I think in some aspects it has motivated us more because people look at us and they say, ‘Poor Nicholls State. Look what they’ve had to go through,’ but it should not be any reason to not work hard,” Wirwille said.

The Lady Colonels fell to the Lady Bearcats 3-0 and the Lady Demons 3-1.

Laird said his team has been able to improve over the season even though it has not been able to have consistency in terms of practicing.

“It’s (lack of consistency) had a huge impact on the kids,” Laird said. “Now we just need to get the mental aspect of the game. Physically they’re understanding what’s going on. Now it’s just time to close out those games that we have that we’re winning.”

Laird expects his team to finish out its home schedule at Thibodaux High School. He said the floor in Stopher Gym needs to be repaired because the boards are damaged. He said he is unsure how the boards were damaged but he said it could have possibly been due to leaking ice chests.

During the last month, Laird added assistant coach Lisa Frannino to his staff a month ago. Frannino previously served as an assistant varsity volleyball coach at St. Martin’s Episcopal High School in Metairie for the past three years. She also played collegiate volleyball for Ole Miss as a setter.

“She brings a wealth of knowledge with her to Nicholls,” Laird said in a University press release. “I am excited to add her expertise to my staff.”

After loosing their first two games to Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin 3-0 and 3-1 respectively, the Lady Colonels fell to Lamar University 3-0.

Following Hurricane Rita, the Lady Colonels returned to the court with trips to San Antonio and San Marcos, Texas, for matches with Texas-San Antonio and Texas State. Both squads swept the Lady Colonels 3-0.

On Oct. 8, the Lady Colonels were able to host their first home and conference game of the season when Texas-Arlington came to Thibodaux. The Mavs defeated the Lady Colonels 3-0. After being shutout 3-0 at Southeastern Louisiana University and at home last Friday night against Texas-San Antonio, the Lady Colonels dropped a 3-1 decision to Texas State.

Sophomore middle blocker Mallory McInnis said it is a challenge for the team to overcome what it has been through this season but the team members cannot use what they have had to overcome as a crutch.

“We have to work together and just play our game,” McInnis said.

Two more conference home games against Louisiana-Monroe and Northwestern State were moved to the road on the weekend of Sept. 23-25, but they were cancelled because of Rita’s landfall on southwestern Louisiana and eastern Texas.

Laird said these two games along with a game against McNeese State in Lake Charles will not be made up. To compensate for the missed action, Laird said the Southland Conference will use the percentage of conference wins versus losses to determine who makes the SLC tournament.

“The top eight teams that have the best wins/loss percentage will go to the tournament as opposed to six,” Laird said. “Normally it’s six with the best wins/loss record. Now they’re going to eight with percentages versus games played.”

The Lady Colonels will return to action this weekend when they host Sam Houston tomorrow at 7 p.m. and Stephen F. Austin on Saturday at 4 p.m. Both games will be played at Thibodaux High School.