Volleyball winless in Memphis Invitational, starts conference play tonight

The Nicholls State University volleyball team lost three straight matches at the MemphisInvitational at Roane Fieldhouse this past weekend.

The Colonels (2-11) competed against the University of Tennessee Martin Skyhawks (6-7)
Friday and lost in three sets with scores of 25-19, 25-18 and 25-22. They next faced the University of Memphis Tigers (7-5) later that day and lost in three sets once again, with scores of 25-20, 25-22 and 25-21.

On Saturday, Nicholls faced the University of Louisiana at Monroe Warhawks (4-12) and lost in three sets with scores of 25-18, 25-22 and 25-16. Emily Venable, a sophomore libero from Gonzales, said that she thought that the team could have played better and that the beginning of conference play against the McNeese State University Cowboys will be a true test for them.

“I think we could have played at a higher level,” Venable said. “I think tomorrow is going to be the true test as to what we can do going into conference.”

Imanie Williams, a freshman outside hitter from Hutto, Texas, also said that the team did not play their best and that they must show consistency.

“This wasn’t our best tournament,” Williams said. “There’s little spurts of our full potential in those games, but we’ve just got to get to where it’s consistent.”

Despite the three losses, Venable recorded 47 digs and was named to the all-tournament team at the Memphis Invitational. Going into tonight’s matchup, she said that McNeese State is a good team and is always competitive.

“They’re always going to put up a good competition. We just need to play our best and give it everything we got.”

Williams said that she believes in the team’s ability to focus and eliminate the talks of losing games.

“I have faith that we’re all going to get our minds right because we’re in this conference and we’re tired of hearing the same things over and over again.”

The Nicholls volleyball team will open conference play tonight at 7 p.m. at Memorial Gym in Lake Charles against McNeese before returning home to host Houston Baptist on
Saturday.

Weekend Statistics (@ UT-Martin, @ Memphis, @ Louisiana-Monroe):

#2 Hill, Brieanna: 10 kills, one ace, two blocks, two assists and seven digs
#3 Perry, Alexa: one assist and 12 digs
#4 Weimer, Emily: 17 kills and five blocks
#5 Tobison, Stephanie: 16 kills, four blocks and 25 digs
#6 Piper, Jade: 66 assists and 24 digs
#9 Williams, Imanie: 24 kills and two blocks
#14 Venable, Emily: five assists and 47 digs
#17 Wozniak, Meghan: 10 assists
#19 Lerille, Sydney: 10 kills, four blocks, one assist and five digs