SamHoustonState upped its Southland Conference volleyball record to 2-0 with a three-set victory over NichollsState Thursday night in Thibodaux.

The defending Southland Conference champion Bearkats defeated the Colonels 25-23 25-16 25-19 to up their regular season record to 5-6. Nicholls drops to 3-8 for the year. The match was the Colonels' league opener.

Hailey Neisler led the Kats with 11 kills and Deveney Wells-Gibson added 10.

Sam Houston, winners of three of their last four matches, totaled 36 kills and produced a .206 hitting percentage. NichollsState committed 23 attack errors and managed only a .085 hitting mean.

Setter Tayler Gray led SHSU with 28 assists and seven digs. Shelby Genung and Carling Urben each were credited with six kills.

Sam Houston continues it Southland Conference trip through Louisiana Saturday afternoon with a league match against McNeeseState.