The race for the Southland Conference Tournament went down to the final day of the regular season, but it was the Nicholls State women’s volleyball team (14-15, 6-10 SLC) who clinched their third consecutive post-season berth as the Colonels’ 3-1 win over Northwestern State (13-16, 4-12 Southland) combined with a Texas State win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christito give the Colonels the No. 8 seed to the 2010 tournament in Huntsville, Texas.The Colonels entered into the final day of the regular season tied with AMCC for the eighth and final tournament spot.However, the Islanders owned the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Colonels by virtue of a 3-0 win at Nicholls on Oct. 15.If the Colonels were going to make their third consecutive postseason appearance, Nicholls needed a win over Northwestern State to go along with a Texas State victory over AMCC.
Fortunately for Nicholls, the Bobcats did their part as Texas State cruised to a 3-0 win at home on the final day of the regular season, leaving Northwestern State the only thing separating the Colonels from the postseason on Saturday.
Nicholls jumped out to an early 1-0 lead with a commanding offensive performance in the opening set.The Colonels combined to hit .270 with 13 kills and just three errors on 37 attempts.Meanwhile, Nicholls’ defense limited Northwestern State to .068 hitting (12-9-44).The Colonels won the opening point and never trailed in the opening set, claiming a 25-15 win and a 1-0 lead.
Nicholls picked up momentum in the second set, taking a four-point lead at 20-16 before Northwestern State began to threaten.The Demons went on a 6-3 run to pull to within one of the Colonels at 23-22. Fortunately for Nicholls, the Colonels held off the Northwestern State charge to hang on for a 25-23 second set win and take a 2-0 lead.
The Demons came out strong in the third, looking to avoid a straight set loss.Nicholls and Northwestern State battled through 13 tie scores and eight lead changes in what was the most competitive set of the match.
Nicholls went up 10-8 in the third, but Northwestern State put together a big run as the Demons went on a 11-4 tear to go up 19-14.Nicholls foughtback, taking a 20-19 lead, but Northwestern State outpaced the Colonels the rest of the way for the 27-25 win, making it 2-1 in favor of Nicholls.
However, the Colonels immediately regrouped in the fourth set, storming out to a 13-7 start.The Demons never got closer than within five points of the Colonels as Nicholls cruised to a 25-15 fourth set win and a 3-1 match victory to snap a five-match losing skid.
With the victory, the Colonels surpassed their 2009 overall wins total of 13, giving this year’s team the most victories by a Nicholls program since the 2002 squad won 19 games.
The Colonels will return to action in Huntsville, Texas, site of the 2010 SLC Volleyball Tournament hosted by Sam Houston State. Nicholls will face regular season conference champion Central Arkansas tomorrow at 11 a.m.
