Volleyball head coach on administrative leave as season wraps up

The Nicholls State University volleyball team wraps up its 2018 season in the next couple of weeks, but a drastic change occurred involving the coaching staff.

Nicholls State University placed head coach Jay Van Vark is on administrative leave after the team’s loss to the Stephen F. Austin State University Lumberjacks Sunday.

The Nicholls Worth reached out to coach Jay Van Vark but he was not available for comment.

Volleyball student-athletes could not comment on the situation as well, but Nicholls Athletics posted a statement about the investigation.

“This is an ongoing university matter,” the statement said. “We reserve comment until the appropriate time.”

The statement also said Vark is on administrative leave, and there is no interim head coach.

The team will play with assistant coaches leading the way, and there is no timetable for a possible return for Vark to Nicholls at this time.

As the season rolls along to its conclusion, senior setter Jade Piper said the squad is looking to press on.

“I feel it’s only a matter of time until we push forward, and we work harder than the other side of the net,” Piper said.

Piper said the wins are not there, but the talent and determination are for the Colonels.

“We’re working better, the scores are, although not showing as a win, a lot closer. We’re competing with a lot of the top teams in the conference and we’re not getting blown out.”

Senior outside hitter Brieanna Hill said the season is not going according to plan, but she remains optimistic.

“I think, personally, while our season isn’t going how we expected it to originally go, we have made drastic changes,” Hill said. “And I think that with these last couple of home games we have left, I think it’s gonna go great.”

Hill said she and her senior teammates are adding memories as the season progresses.

“We may not be winning, but at the end of the day it’s definitely memories I’m making here.”

For its next match, the Colonels will take on the University of the Incarnate Word Cardinals Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Stopher Gym.