Match #1 Box Score and Play-by-Play vs. Kennesaw State
Match #2 Box Score and Play-by-Play vs. Southern Miss
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Freshman
Lauren Chapman had a major offensive impact on her first day in a college uniform, totaling 20 kills in two matches at the Southern Miss Invitational. However, the Nicholls State University women's volleyball team (0-2) fell just short in the 2010 opener against Kennesaw State before dropping a contest to defending regular season Conference USA champion and tournament host Golden Eagles.
The Colonels faced off against the Owls in the first match of the tournament and battled KSU through 19 tie scores and 11 lead changes in their opening contest. Chapman led the way for the Colonels with 12 kills on 28 attempts while making just five errors (.250 hitting percentage). Sophomores
Jessica Addicks and
Jennifer Brandt each added nine kills to the Colonel offensice cause.
Chapman also recorded her first career double-double at the Owls' expense by being one of three Colonels to turn in double-digit digs in the season opener. Defensively, Nicholls was led by setter
Jordan Karst's 11 digs. Chapman and Brandt recorded ten each.
However, it wasn't enough to outpace KSU. The Colonels battled the Owls to five ties and three lead changes in the opener before falling 25-20 in the first set. Nicholls again put up a fight in the second, but 11 tie scores and seven lead changes weren't enough for the Colonels who fell 25-23 in set number two. In the third set, the Colonels were undone by 12 errors and KSU took full advantage, turning in a team hitting percentage of .278 (12-2-36) en route to a 25-15.
Nicholls had their work cut out for them as the the Colonels looked to pull even on the day. After their back-and-forth contest with the Owls, Nicholls got set to take on the Golden Eagles. Southern Miss showed the form that made them the defending C-USA champs, compiling a .257 team hitting percentage (41-12-113) while taking advantage of 29 Nicholls errors in the nightcap.
The Colonels were led by Brandt, who turned in team best totals for kills (9) and hitting percentage (.208, 9-4-24). Meanwhile, Chapman added eight more kills to bring her total on the day to 20.
However, it wasn't enough to overcome Southern Miss as the Golden Eagles claimed wins of 25-14, 25-13 and 25-18.
The Colonels will return to action on Saturday when they look to try to pick up their first win of the season against South Alabama in the finale of the Southern Miss Invitational.