Nicholls wins own volleyball tourney

The Nicholls State volleyball team won the 2011 PRO-MAG Colonel Classic in impressive fashion Saturday sweeping Alabama State 26-16, 27-25, 25-9 at Stopher Gym.

After tallying 39 kills and notching three blocks, dominate play at the net helped Nicholls.

I am very happy with my outside and right-side hitters, Nicholls coach TeAna Tramel said. The outsides had an amazing tournament.

Jennifer Brandt had 14 kills for the Colonels, while Sarah Terry notched 11.

Five of Brandt's kills came in the pivotal second set.

After trailing by as many as seven points, the Hornets chipped away and used a five-point rally to take the lead, 23-22. The run spurred a time out by Tramel.

We talked about our serve-receive and called one of our plays, Tramel said. We nailed a pass and really executed well after that time out.

Later a dig from tournament MVP Rachel Yezak of Nicholls led to a set helping Brandt with a kill to even the score.

A later kill by Terry ended the set.

Yezak finished with 18 digs to go with five kills.

Jordan Karst (32 assists) contributed 14 digs while Jennifer Dunn had 12. E.D. White Catholic product Kathryn Stock added six kills and seven digs.

I am very impressed with Nicholls, Hornets coach Penny Lucas-White.



Over the tournament it seemed that if the other team took it up a notch, they went up two. I think they will do well in their conference.

Eight errors hurt Alabama State (3-9) in the opening set.

The miscues helped the Colonels (7-3) lead by as many as 12 before a dink by Terry ended it.

Ten consecutive serves from Stock in the final set helped the Colonels go up 15-5 and put the Hornets away.

All-tournament player Maya Bell finished with 14 kills and 13 digs for Alabama State.

Brandt represented Nicholls on the all-tournament team as a hitter, while Dunn was named all tournament libero. Nicholls finished with 10 attack errors and Alabama State with 23 for a .091 hitting percentage.

Earlier on Saturday, Nicholls beat South Alabama 25-18, 18-25, 27-25, 25-15.

Yezak's 13 kills 11 digs and four assisted blocks paced the Colonels. Karst added 16 assists and 13 digs.

Nicholls plays on Monday at Grambling, with first serve set for 6:30 p.m., then travels on Wednesday to face Alcorn State before returning home to host the 2011 PRO-MAG Bayou Invitational beginning on Friday afternoon.