NEW ORLEANS –
Mariana Franco reached 2,000 collegiate assists, but the Nicholls Colonels won a tight first set, which helped key them to a 3-1 (29-27, 25-17, 21-25, 25-18) win over the LSU New Orleans Privateers on Thursday night at the Human Performance Center.
Franco, who racked up 1,813 assists in two years at Missouri State-West Plains, recorded the milestone assist in the third set when she set up
Laura Piva for the kill as the Privateers pushed a fourth set.
However, Nicholls launched a big run near the technical timeout to erase a small deficit. Trailing 12-10, the Colonels scored on six straight rallies in a variety of ways. They had two kills, a block, an ace and two Privateer attack errors.
Nicholls opened the advantage to 23-15 off a Privateer attack error. After LSU New Orleans got back on the service line on the next rally, they threatened a comeback by scoring three consecutive points to slice the deficit in half. Nicholls was not to be denied though as Amelie Shalfoon came through with two of her team-leading 15 kills to close out the victory for the Colonels.
The first set was full of intensity and drama, but it did not start that way. The Privateers asserted early command with a 12-7 lead at the outset, but the Colonels steadily rallied their way back into proceedings. They first tied the score on a tandem block which made it 15-15.
Nicholls surged ahead late through a pair of Harper Holden aces to take a 23-20 lead. The Privateers came roaring back though through kills by
Nyakuak Lual and
Ryan Williams along with a
Peyton Cole ace to set up their first look at set point.
The Colonels saved that look and three more in succession before pushing through on three straight kills by Kera Arrington to take the lead 1-0 in the match. Nicholls used that momentum to take the second set as they scored eight of the last ten points to extend their lead to 2-0.
Madison Smith had 10 kills and 13 digs while Zaharah Edwaryds-Wyllie finished with nine kills. Natalia Navarro had a team-high 19 digs.
INSIDE THE BOX
Armie Hall scored a team-high 15 kills and added two blocks. Franco finished with 16 assists and 13 digs. Cole and
Vladana Ristic each had 10 digs in the back row.
Elani Ratchkovska finished with nine kills while
Ava Frerman added eight kills and nine digs.
NEXT UP
The Privateers will take on McNeese on Saturday at 11 a.m.
SEASON TICKETS
Tickets for all home matches are available
here.
ABOUT LSU NEW ORLEANS
In July of 2026 the University of New Orleans rejoined the LSU system and rebranded to "LSU New Orleans" bringing together two powerful brands - the purple and gold of LSU with the unbreakable spirit of New Orleans. The transition marks a return to the LSU family for the University - a place it called home from 1958-2011. Athletic teams will remain the Privateers and continue to compete in the Southland Conference.
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