University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
13-17, 5-9Sun Belt
FIU
17-8, 9-5Sun Belt
Cajuns Storm Back in Final Three Sets to Top FIU
11/6/2011 5:20:00 PM | Volleyball
Box Score
A late surge in the third set triggered a remarkable comeback for the Ragin' Cajuns volleyball team who erased a 2-0 deficit in Sunday's match against FIU at Earl K. Long Gym with victories in the final three sets.
With the 3-2 (24-26, 15-25, 29-27, 25-21, 15-11) win, Louisiana (13-17, 5-9 Sun Belt) moved into the Sun Belt Tournament picture by pulling into a tie with Troy (15-13, 5-9 Sun Belt) for the eighth and final spot. Pending the outcome of the UALR-North Texas match, UL could sit in a three-way tie for the seventh seed with two matches remaining.
The Cajuns close out regular season play and make their final push for the SBC Tournament next weekend with matches against Arkansas State (Nov. 11) and UALR (Nov. 13) at Earl K. Long Gym.
On the verge of being swept by FIU (17-8, 9-5 Sun Belt) in Sunday's match the Ragin' Cajuns offense came alive in the third set. UL piled up 10 kills during a 15-7 run which erased a 20-14 deficit and led to a 29-27 set victory that extended the match.
The Cajuns broke free from a 2-all tie in the fourth set with an impressive string of five unanswered points. A block solo by Lavinia Tataran broke the tie. The lead grew to 7-2 following a kill by Kaylee Nemeth, a Nemeth and Mandi Gavin block, Taylor Meade service ace and Tataran kill.
UL never lost the lead despite the Panthers closing within two points five times. The final time FIU moved within two points, kills by Blair Claypoole and Tonice White extended the Cajuns lead to 23-19.
The Cajuns threw down nine kills on 20 attempts at a .350 clip to finish off the rally with a 15-11 win in the fifth set. Ahead 5-4, kills from Nemeth, Gavin and Mirarchi stretched the advantage to 8-4. After the Panthers trimmed the deficit to 12-9, a kill from Mirarchi and block thrown up by Claypoole and White moved the Cajuns to set point.
Key to the UL rally was improved hitting percentages each of the final three sets. Starting with the third set, the Cajuns percentage in succession was .222, .275 and .350.
Four Cajuns reached double figures in kills led by Tataran and White who finished with 14 apiece. Mirarchi added 12 and Claypoole finished with 10.
Mirarchi's efforts allowed her to move past Elizabeth Inman for the Cajuns rally scoring era career kills record. The Plano, Texas, native now has 935 career kills besting Inman's standard of 927 from 2005-08.
Mirarchi also moved within 16 kills of reaching 300-plus for the second straight season. Last season she led the Cajuns with 364 kills.
Caitlin Auxilien led the Cajuns with a match-high 24 digs. Meade registered two service aces to increase her Sun Belt-leading tally to 45 and needs eight more to move into the SBC rally scoring era single season Top 5.
FIU held a 70-62 advantage in kills with the vast majority of those coming off the arms of Jovana Bjelica who threw down a match-high 28 kills. Bjelica also led the Panthers with 21 digs.
Louisiana posted its first win over FIU since Oct. 14, 2004, snapping a string of six straight defeats.
The Panthers overcame a 12-3 deficit in the opening set benefiting from eight UL attack errors in the final 19 rallies to complete their comeback. A Bjelica kill evened the set at 24-all, then consecutive attack errors by the Cajuns gave the visitors a 26-24 victory.
The second set featured seven ties and three lead changes until the Panthers offense sprung to life after a 7-all tie. FIU registered 14 kills and finished the set with a .341 hitting percentage on the way to a 25-15 win that opened a 2-0 lead in the match.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
