THIBODAUX, Louisiana – The HCU volleyball team is set to compete in their first Southland Conference game this season when the Huskies take on Nicholls at Stopher Gym at 6:30 p.m. this Thursday.
HCU (3-8) closed its final non-conference tournament with a mixed performance, dropping two tightly-contested five-set matches against ULM and Tarleton State before sweeping Alcorn State in their final game. Despite strong starts against ULM and Tarleton, the Huskies couldn't maintain their momentum, losing both matches in five sets. However, HCU bounced back convincingly against Alcorn, dominating in straight sets with
Audrey Pearce leading the way with 13 kills and five blocks alongside stellar serving performances from
Tatiana Evans and
Alexia Jones while freshman
Peyton Fadal made her first career start and finished with 26 assists.
Pearce leads HCU with 130 kills and 58 blocks, while
Ana Garza and
Cassidy Drapela have contributed 88 and 87 kills, respectively.
Grace McLaughlin has been instrumental in setting up the offense with 414 assists, and
Bianca Byerly leads the team in service aces with 19.
Tatiana Evans anchors the defense with 142 digs, followed closely by McLaughlin with 137 and Jones with 97.
Nicholls (5-6) enters its first conference match following two non-conference contests. The Colonels swept Southern, 3-0, at home but fell in a closely fought 3-2 loss to Grambling State on the road. Leah Linares Castro has been the offensive leader for Nicholls, recording 95 kills and 20 service aces. Makila Billingsley and Tierney Terrell bolster the attack with 92 and 80 kills, respectively, while Ava-Claire Calais commands the offense with 213 assists. On defense, Kenley Nonato leads with 165 digs, and Jordan Gamble has been a force at the net with 37 blocks.
The Huskies will return home for their next match, hosting Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in Sharp Gym on Saturday, September 28, at 1 p.m.
