Thursday, Feb. 18
HBU at Nicholls – 7 p.m. | Live Stats | Watch
 
Saturday, Feb. 20
HBU at New Orleans – 11 a.m. | Live Stats | Watch
 
THIBODAUX, La. – HBU will hit the road to face Nicholls Thursday, followed by New Orleans Saturday to open its Southland Conference volleyball spring season.
 
The Huskies were originally scheduled to open two weeks ago, but had to delay the start due to NCAA and Southland Conference health and safety protocols.
 
HBU played six matches in the fall, going 1-5, but the team looks very different with the departure of senior outside hitter Kelly Colwell, senior middle blocker Megan Patillo, senior defensive specialist Makenna Davis and sophomore libero Marisabel Torres-Rivera.
 
Senior outside hitter Mikayla Vivens, a preseason all-conference selection, is the Huskies' leading returning attacker with 50 kills, while junior middle blocker Jada Allen had 22 and freshman outside hitter Reagan Leinen had 19. Vivens also leads HBU defensively with 72 digs and freshman Madeline McKinney had 38. Sophomore setter Ellie Wipf directed the offense in all 22 sets.
 
Nicholls is 0-3 in conference play this spring and have been led by Kate Hoerdemann's 3.00 kills per set, with Emily Gauthreaux adding 2.85 per set. Kylie Lockhart paces the Colonels defensively with 3.64 digs per set, while Aaliyah Burras is the leading blocker with 12.
 
New Orleans is 2-1 in the league and have five players averaging more than two kills per set, led by Kai Williams with 2.94. Lucie Pokorna is distributing at a 10.28 assists per set pace. Defensively, Hannah Volpi is averaging 4.72 digs per set and Shelby Pullins has recorded 1.56 blocks per set.
 
Thursday's match begins at 7 p.m., followed by Saturday's 11 a.m. tilt.