The Nicholls State University volleyball team counts on a solid roster to improve last season’s records after being near the bottom on the 2015 Southland Conference Volleyball Preseason polls.

The Colonels were ranked 11th out of a 13 team division, receiving 49 points In SLC coaches’ poll. In the sports information directors’ poll, the team ranked a little higher, occupying the 9th position with 54 points.

“It is a negative thing that we got to hear, but it gives us motivation at the gym to work harder, and at the end we are going to prove them wrong,” Alyse Barclay, senior setter said.

Head Coach Tommy Harold and Assistant Coach Marko Majstorovic look to the returning players for leadership, support and motivation in order to improve its performance on the incoming season.

Although near the bottom, the Colonels come back for the 2015 season with an experienced team. Nicholls returns nine starters, including Barclay, who led the team in total assists, finishing the season with a team-high of 452 assists. The Colonels also bring back last season’s all-conference player and 2015 all-preseason first team junior outside hitter Kaci Eaton, will help the team to elevate their game on and off the court.

The team will be counting on the addition of five talented newcomers: defensive specialist and libero Alexa Perry, defensive specialist and setter Lucija Barac, middle blocker Tijana Sisic, outside hitter Anna Niederhauser and middle blocker Sydney Lerille.

“I think if we base our expectations on the poll, the bar is set pretty low. We got higher expectations for ourselves than that and I think we will get there,” Harold said.
The team expects to surpass last year’s performance and to make the SLC tournament sooner.

“I am excited. I think it is going to be a great year. I think the girls are fired up and we are excited to get rolling,” Harold said.

Last season the Colonels exceeded the league expectations and reached the SLC Tournament after finishing in the 12th position in both preseason polls.

“We are doing a lot better now than we were doing at this point last year, so I think we are looking to finish a lot better than what they ranked us at the polls,” Barclay said.

The Nicholls Women’s Volleyball team will have this season’s kick off on Aug. 28, at 5 p.m. against the Southern University Jaguars, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.