Outside hitter Carli Kolbe totaled 15 kills to lead Sam Houston to a four-set victory over Nicholls in a Southland Conference volleyball match at Johnson Coliseum Saturday afternoon.
The performance left the junior from College Station just four short of becoming the 20th player in Bearkat volleyball's 41-year history to total 1,000 career kills. In three seasons, Kolbe has totaled 996.
The win also allowed Sam Houston (9-12, SLC 3-3) to avenge its upset loss to Nicholls in the 2008 Southland Conference tournament first round where the Bearkats were the No. 2 seed.
Sam Houston dropped the first set but rallied for a 17-25 25-19 25-22 25-19 victory.
The Colonels came out of the gate quickly, going on a 10-3 run after an early 2-2 tie to build a 12-5 advantage in the first set. Sam Houston never came closer than four points as Nicholls continued the momentum to win the set 25-17.
Sam Houston came to life early in the second frame, starting with an 11-4 lead and rolling to a 25-18 second set win.
Nicholls looked in control in the third, leading 14-9. But Sam Houston went on a 7-1 run earn a 16-15 margin. The set was tied five times with four lead changes. The Bearkats won eight of the final 13 points to take the third frame.
Sam Houston jumped out to a 7-4 lead in the fourth and never trailed again to earn the victory.
Two other Bearkats totaled double figure kills as Haley Neisler and Jamie Kaleh each posted 10. Kim Black added nine kills and led the SHSU defense with nine blocks. Kym Loving assisted on 41 of Sam Houston's 51 total kills.
Rachel Yezak led Nicholls with 10 kills and Lauren Chapman added nine.
Sam Houston now heads on a four-match road swing the next two weeks. The Bearkats will travel to Texas State and UT-Arlington next Thursday and Saturday.
The next home match for the Bearkats is Tuesday Oct. 28 when SHSU hosts Texas State. The 7 p.m. match at Johnson Coliseum will be "Pink Out" night at Johnson Coliseum with "Kats for the Cause" encouraging breast cancer awareness and research. The matchup with the Bobcats also will be 99 cent menu item night at Johnson Coliseum.
Tickets to Sam Houston volleyball are on sale online at www.gobearkats.com/tickets or at the SHSU athletic ticket office at the Ron Mafridge Field House at Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone is 936 294-1729.
