THIBODAUX, La. – HCU opened Southland Conference play by sweeping Nicholls in straight sets (27-25, 25-18, 25-21) at Stopher Gymnasium on Thursday evening.

The Huskies (6-7, 1-0 SLC) commenced the opening set with back-to-back kills by Anna Gadway to get off to a quick lead. After back and forth runs by each team, Nicholls (2-9, 0-1 SLC) tied the game at 11-11 before eventually gaining an 18-15 lead. The Huskies rallied for four of the next five points, including back-to-back kills by Sara Arroyo and two-straight by Gadway to tie the game at 19-19. After dropping three of the next four points, HCU fired back with consecutive kills by Audrey Pearce to tie it up again at 22-22. Clinging to a set point deficit of 24-23, the Huskies scored the next two points with kills by Arroyo to grab set point at 25-24. After Nicholls tied the game to push extra points, the Huskies snatched the lead with a kill by Lexi Temple before an Arroyo kill closed it out, 27-25.

In the second set, the Colonels jumped out to a quick lead before the Huskies tied the game at 5-5 on a kill from Pearce. Three-straight Nicholls errors gave the Huskies the lead before the Colonels responded and tied the game at 8-8. HCU tallied seven-straight points capped by back-to-back kills from Cassidy Drapela to take a commanding 15-8 lead. The Colonels pulled within five points at 21-16 before the Huskies captured four of the last six points to take the set, 25-18.

In the decisive third set, the Huskies took advantage of early attacking errors by Nicholls to register an 8-5 lead. After two-straight points by the Colonels, HCU scored five in a row to take control at 13-7. Nicholls made a late charge to shrink its deficit to one point, 19-18, but the Huskies answered right back with back-to-back kills by Temple and cruised to a, 25-21, set victory.

HCU was led by Arroyo with 13 kills and two blocks while Drapela also added 13 kills. Setter Grace McLaughlin recorded her fifth double-double of the season, dishing out 40 assists along with 14 digs . Libero Kaley Feris racked up 16 digs and an ace.

Nicholls' Autumn Perry led the Colonels with 12 kills and 11 digs while Berra Soyler tallied 17 assists and Kendall Battistella added 15 assists. Gabrielle Barth led Nicholls defensively with 13 digs.

The Huskies return to Sharp Gym for the Southland Conference home opener against UIW on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Come out and support the Huskies or watch the live broadcast on ESPN+!