University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
5-2
Lamar
1-6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamar | 22 | 19 | 25 | 23 | 1 |
| Louisiana | 25 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 3 |
Cajuns Grab Early Lead, Then Hold off Lamar
9/7/2011 2:56:00 AM | Volleyball
With the win the Cajuns (5-2) extended their home court winning streak to five matches - a streak that dates back to last season. UL has won 13 of the last 15 matches at E.K. Long.
Blair Claypoole led Louisiana with a match-and season-high 14 kills. She was supported in double figures by Lesley Mirarchi (10 kills) and Tonice White (10 kills).
Mandi Gavin dished out 41 assists and contributed a match-high 17 digs.
Lamar (1-6) suffered its fifth straight defeat as the Cajuns avenged a 3-1 loss to the Cardinals last season in Beaumont. Megan McStravick and Sierra Whittaker paced the Cardinals with 12 and 10 kills, respectively.
The Cajuns used a 26-18 advantage in kills to claim the first two sets. UL hit .227 and held Lamar to a .145 clip.
The opening set featured 14 ties and eight lead changes. Neither team led by more than two points until the final margin.
Trailing 21-20, Louisiana pulled even on a Mirarchi kill then proceeded to serve up three aces in the final five rallies to post a 25-22 victory.
The Cajuns jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the second set on the strength of five kills. The Cardinals countered with a 6-0 run to draw even, but a McStravick service error retuned the serve to UL and the hosts never relinquished the lead.
Leading 12-10, three straight kills from White provided enough cushion as Lamar never got closer than three points the remainder of the set.
Louisiana committed 19 attack errors over the final two sets which allowed Lamar to claim the third set, 25-22, and nearly force a decisive fifth set.
In the fourth set, the Cardinals erased a 21-20 deficit using a McStravick kill and Andrea Hole attack error. A kill by Claypoole and block from Mirarchi and Kerrilyn Lazare retuned the lead to the Cajuns, 23-22.
After a Claypoole attack error forged the ninth tie of the set, the combination of Gavin and Lazare locked down the match victory as Gavin set up Lazare to break the tie then on the ensuing rally Lazare passed to Gavin for the final kill.
Louisiana takes a three-match win streak to San Marcos, Texas, for the CenturyLink Premier tournament hosted by Texas State Friday-Saturday, Sept. 10. The Ragin' Cajuns open tournament play on Friday with matches against New Mexico State at 9 a.m. and Texas State at 7 p.m.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
