Several freshmen give Nicholls volleyball hope for future following trying season

Although the Nicholls volleyball team dropped its final two matches of the season to close out the year at 4-24, the Lady Colonels showed some potential for the future with a roster filled with underclassmen.

Nicholls dropped its final home match of the season last week against the University of New Orleans in three sets, 22-25, 20-25, 13-25.

In the Lady Colonels’ final match of the season, Nicholls lost at Houston Christian. The Lady Colonels also lost to HCU in three sets, 18-25, 25-27, 18-25.

In 28 matches, Nicholls lost in three sets 17 times. Of that total, 11 came in Southland play as the Lady Colonels finished with a 2-16 record in conference play.

After Nicholls posted a 7-23 record last year, the Lady Colonels got the 2023 season off to a positive note, picking up a win in their opening tournament of the season.

After losing to host Sam Houston State in four sets in the opening game of the Bearkat Invitational in Huntsville, Texas, the Lady Colonels earned their initial win under first-year coach Jonea Rima with a four-set victory over Portland, 25-22, 25-9, 15-25, 25-23.

The Lady Colonels were road warriors to begin the season, playing their first 10 matches on the road.

Following the win over Portland, Nicholls went on to lose its next four matches before defeating Mississippi Valley in three sets, 25-2, 25-10, 25-14 in the Southern Miss Invitational in Hattiesburg, Miss., to improve its record to 2-5.

The Lady Colonels’ first home match didn’t come until the 11th game of the season, which also was the Southland Conference opener. Nicholls lost in three sets to Houston Christian, 25-27, 18-25, 21-25 to fall to 2-9 overall.

Nicholls’ losing streak would reach 12 games before the Lady Colonels defeated visiting Texas A&M-Commerce in four sets, 25-14, 25-18, 21-25, 25-20.

The win improved Nicholls to 1-9 in the SLC and 3-17 overall.

Five matches later, the Lady Colonels’ only other win of the season was again against the Lions, this time 22-25, 25-23, 25-17, 25-23.

A pair of Nicholls losses to Lamar provided the Cardinals their only two wins of the season.

Nicholls featured only one senior, middle blocker Jhayla Bolden. She finished the season second on the team in blocks with 69.

Leading the team in blocks was sophomore middle blocker Paris Dixon.

Splitting time at setter were junior Kendall Battistella and freshman Berra Soyler.

Battistella finished with 425 assists and Soyler 337.

Junior libero/defensive specialist Rae Leano led the team with 169 digs.

Handling the outside hitter roles were Autumn Perry, Gracie Campbell, Addison Phares, and Deniz Akgul.

Perry was first among sets played by a freshman with 93. She led the team with 229 kills, which was one behind Leano for the team lead. She finished with 53 blocks.

After missing the first half of the season with an injury, Campbell came on strong in the second half of the season. Playing in 54 sets, she finished second on the team in kills with 175.

Phares played in 90 sets and finished with 101 kills.

Akgul saw more and more playing time down the stretch, playing in 35 sets.

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