The Nicholls volleyball team started this season losing three straight games but quickly turned the season around and won four games in five days. But since that streak early in the season, wins have come few and far between for the team as the Colonels have only won four games in their last 18 contests. Nicholls is currently 8-17 overall and 2-8 in Southland Conference play.
The Colonels lost two games over the weekend to Texas A & M-Corpus Christi and Texas-San Antonio but defeated Southeastern Tuesday night.
Going into the game against TAMUCC, the Colonels had not won a set against an opponent since Nicholls swept Southeastern University in three straight games in its opening conference game. Although the team had lost 18 straight sets, Nicholls’ best chance to win was at home against the Islanders.
The Colonels came out strong in the first match and took the early advantage of TAMUCC miscues to win the first set 30-26. The Islanders, however, shifted the momentum their way and won the second match 30-19 to tie the contest at 1-1.
TAMUCC won the third match 30-28, going up 2-1 with Nicholls serving first in the fourth game. With their backs to the wall, Nicholls was able to regain its composure winning the game 30-22.
In the fifth and deciding game, the Colonels were up big with a 9-4 lead when the Islanders slowly made their comeback, tying the game at 10.
Both teams would go back and forth with five lead changes throughout the rest of the game, but two attack errors by Atina Porter put away the Colonels’ chance at their second conference win.
After a tough loss to TAMUCC the night before, the Colonels tried their best to shake off the previous night’s loss but fell in three straight sets to UTSA 30-19, 30-20 and 30-18.
With two straight losses at home, Nicholls was looking to earn its second conference win against Southeastern Tuesday with only a few home games remaining.
The Colonels were able to defend their home turf and defeated the Lions in three straight games 30-19, 30-20 and 31-29.
“Tonight our players showed that they have what it takes to compete,” Laird said. “I’m so proud of the way they came out and competed, knowing that they have to give everything they have in order to make the tournament.”
With seven games remaining, Nicholls still has an opportunity to make the season-ending conference tournament but has to win every game in order to do so.
“It’s not too late, and we still have a chance, but it’s up to our players to believe in themselves in order for us to win,” Laird said.
