Schedules released, Colonels earn recognition

A summertime tradition
July 18, 2018
From a vacation leap words of wisdom
July 18, 2018
A summertime tradition
July 18, 2018
From a vacation leap words of wisdom
July 18, 2018

Three Nicholls State University sports released their schedules for the 2018-19 seasons, while one other got some high praise from its peers.

Both the Nicholls tennis teams and the soccer team released their schedules for the upcoming seasons — challenging slates which will pit the Colonels against some of the top teams in the Southeast and beyond.


While that news made headlines, it was Nicholls football who arguably stole the front page, earning 14 spots on the Preseason All-Southland Conference list — more than anyone else in the league.

TENNIS READY FOR CHALLENGES

The Colonels’ tennis teams will be busy with full fall schedules.


The men’s team will play four tournaments from mid-September to mid-October — a three-state trek, which will begin on Sept. 14-15 at the Scramble on the Bayou event in New Orleans.

The team will also make trips to Houston, Texas, Pensacola, Florida and Tuscaloosa, Alabama in their challenging slate.

Arguably the biggest event will be the ITA Regional Championships, which are from Oct. 17-22.


The women’s tennis team will play some of the same events with slight variation. They, too, will compete at the Scramble on the Bayou event in New Orleans and the West Florida Invitational in Pensacola.

But the ITA Regional Championships for women’s tennis are in Oxford, Mississippi this year — an event which will take place from Oct. 12-14.

The Colonels’ women will also have the last meet of the season at the SELA Fall Classic on Oct. 26-28 in Hammond.


Coach Greg Harkens said the schedules are challenging and will test the Colonels from start-to-finish.

He said the goal is to get as much experience in the fall as possible before moving to the spring season in 2019.

“We are looking to get as much match play as possible this fall, testing both squads as we prepare for a challenging spring,” Harkins said. “We have experience in the lineups and want to push the players with quality opponents and give the new recruits an opportunity to establish themselves as easy as possible. It’s going to be a busy fall, but that’s what the program needs as we continue to grow and raise the level of play in the Southland Conference, southern region and nationally.”


SOCCER HAS HOME-HEAVY SLATE

The Nicholls’ soccer team will have a lot of the same things in mind — except they will be doing a lot of their work from the comforts of home.

The soccer team’s schedule is home-heavy with the Colonels playing eight of their first nine matches at home — including just one non-conference match away from home.


The Colonels play a scrimmage at UL-Lafayette on Aug. 8, before opening the 2018 season nine days later against North Dakota at home.

Along the way, Nicholls will play eight non-conference matches with the only road test coming Aug. 24 at Mississippi Valley State.

The Colonels will also open Southland Conference play at home on Sept. 14 against Lamar before traveling for the first time in league play a week later at Incarnate Word.


Nicholls soccer is hoping for a turnaround. The team finished 6-11-1 last season under coach Mac McBride. But the Colonels have a huge, six-player senior class, which should carry the team through the season.

NICHOLLS FOOTBALL EARNS HIGH PRAISE

The Nicholls State University football team is considered one of the best teams in the country in 2018 — a group which went to the playoffs last year, but also is returning a slew of starters on both sides of the ball.


Their peers in the Southland Conference have taken note.

The Colonels had 14 selections to the Preseason All-Southland Conference Team, including 10 first-team selections. Both of those numbers are at the top of the conference — three more than the next highest team in the league, Central Arkansas.

The First-Team selections are quarterback Chase Fourcade, receiver Damion Jeanpiere Jr., offensive linemen Ryan Hanley and Chandler Arceneaux, defensive linemen Sully Laiche and Kenny Dotson, linebackers Allen Pittman and Hezekiah White and defensive backs Corey Abraham and Ahmani Martin.


Second-Team selections were halfback Kyran Irvin, receiver Dai’Jean Dixon, offensive lineman Eddie Houston and kicker Lorran Fonseca.

Southland Conference Media Day is next week in Houston.

Coach Tim Rebowe and seniors Ryan Hanley and Hezekiah White will represent the Colonels.


Nicholls’ 2018 season opens on Sept. 1 at Kansas. The Colonels will also play at Tulane on Sept. 8 before opening the Southland Conference on Sept. 15 at McNeese.

The Colonels’ first home game will be a significant challenge — a Sept. 22 game against Sam Houston State.

Nicholls Tennis


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