Lady Colonels finally get to hear roar of home crowd despite loss to Houston Christian

Members of the Nicholls volleyball team continually heard an unfamiliar sound emanating from Stopher Gym in Thibodaux on Thursday night.

The crowd was cheering for them.

After playing their first ten matches on the road, the Lady Colonels were finally hearing the roar of the home crowd.

“We were really excited,” said junior outside hitter Trinity Vinzant said. “We had a pretty good crowd. We were just ready to be home and not on the road. It was really supportive to see our community come together and support us. We love the support. It’s amazing.”

Although Nicholls lost in three games to Houma Christian University, 25-27, 18-25, 21-25, the crowd was behind the Lady Colonels in the Southland Conference opener.

“It’s always fun to play in front of our home fans. The environment was great. Although we didn’t get to the finish, it’s definitely something we can build upon,” said Kendall Battistella, a junior setter and defensive specialist.

For freshman Autumn Perry, the match marked the first time she had ever experienced a home crowd in a Nicholls uniform.

“It was weird, definitely,” said Perry.

After surrendering the first two points in the opening game, Nicholls rallied for three-straight points to take the lead and set the stage for what would be a back-and-forth affair.

With the score tied 25-25 but needing to win by two to capture the game, HCU (6-7 overall, 1-0 in conference) pulled ahead on a kill by Lexie Temple. A kill by Sara Arroyo off an assist by Grace McLaughlin gave the Huskies the opening game.

In the second and third games of the match, HCU built a bit of a spread before the Lady Colonels rallied before ultimately falling.

Trailing 21-24 in the third game, the match ended on a service error by Paris Dixon.

“It was a good competition. I think that we started out really strong,” said Nicholls coach Jonea Rima. “We kind of had little roller coaster here and there, but I thought the girls played well. They stuck to the game plan quite well.

“It wasn’t the best performance at the end of the day against Houston Christian. They are a real good team.”

Like her players, it was her initial time to be before the home crowd for the first-year Nicholls coach.

“We started fall break today, so a lot of kids were gone for the weekend, but I think we had a good crowd. Soccer was in the house; basketball was in the house. We had several athletes just in general. Families were able to come out, so it’s nice to be home and have some support and really represent the school,” Rima said.

Analyzing the loss, Battistella pointed out the play of McLaughlin, the opposing setter.

“Their setter runs an incredible offense. She’s really quick with the ball. She sees the court really well. We tried to scout them and stuff, to read her and stuff, and she just comes out very good every time,” said Battistella.

McLaughlin finished with 40 assists in the three-game match.

Berra Soyler had 17 assists for Nicholls. Perry, the freshman, paced Nicholls with 12 kills and tied for the team lead in block assists with three. Gabrielle Barth had 13 digs to pace the Lady Colonels.

Arroyo and Cassidy Drapela each had 13 kills for HCU.

Although the loss dropped Nicholls to 2-9 on the season, many Lady Colonels agree they have something to build upon.

“I think we’re just a new team. We’re fresh. We’re trying to build something. I think we are getting a lot better. We’re getting there,” said Perry.

“We ask a lot of our underclassmen to dial in. Even us upperclassmen, focusing again, we will be very successful toward the end,” Battistella said.