The Nicholls State University volleyball team progresses to postseason play for the first time since 2010, after beating McNeese State University to final spot in Southland Conference Tournament.

After being downed in the last three games, the team found their strength and ended the game with a score of 3-0 against McNeese. Being Kalynn Egea’s senior night, and the last game of the season, Saturday’s game was important to the Colonels. They challenged the Cowgirls for the number eight position in the SLC tournament and ended with McNeese being eliminated from postseason play.

“There’s always a little bit of pressure before any game, but that one there was a little bit more at the beginning because there was a lot more riding on it. Once you’re in the game, you kind of get lost while playing,” sophomore Kaci Eaton said. “There were multiple times during the game that I didn’t even know what the score was. I was just playing. I don’t think anyone really focused on it too much, and at the end we were just like ‘we did it!’”

The Colonels were offensively led by sophomore Mikayla Miller, with a career high of thirteen kills and .500 hitting percentage. Nicholls’ defense was led by their only senior, Egea, with 22 digs. Sophomore Ainsley Marroccoli ended the game with sixteen assists and junior Alyse Barclay ended with eleven. Eaton, who closed the final set of the match with a defining kill, had twelve kills and eight digs in the game. Freshman Emily Weimer and sophomore Kali Schwarts each contributed six blocks as well.

Friday, the team will begin the first round of the SLC tournament as they play Stephen F. Austin State University. The Ladyjacks are 16-0 in conference and have earned the Number one position in the tournament. SFA has only lost seven of their thirty games in the overall season. The Colonels will enter the tournament with a SLC record of 6-10.

“I think we’re really prepared actually. We kind of figured out its do or die now. We’ve elevated our play in the game on Saturday, and I think we kind of continued that throughout practice this week as well. If we can continue that this weekend, it would be even better, “ Eaton said.