Volleyball Opens Home Slate With Bon Temps Invitational

Contact: Matt Hebert

Bon Temps Invitational Schedule (PDF) | Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball Season Stats (HTML)

LAFAYETTE – The Ragin' Cajuns volleyball team makes its 2012 season home debut on Friday, with the opening of play in the Bon Temps Invitational at Earl K. Long Gym.

Louisiana (1-2) is scheduled to open tournament play at 12:30 p.m., against Houston Baptist. The home opener is a little earlier in the day, as Hurricane Isaac altered Southern Miss' travel plans and forced the Bon Temps Invitational schedule to change (click here).

The Cajuns conclude Friday's action with a 7 p.m., match against Interstate 10 rival McNeese State. On Saturday, Louisiana battles Southern Miss at 11:30 a.m.

Action in the Bon Temps Invitational is the first for the Ragin' Cajuns since last week's season-opening trip to Huntsville, Texas, for the Sam Houston State Invitational. UL was set to travel to Jackson State on Tuesday, but Hurricane Isaac postponed that trip.

At SHSU, the Cajuns suffered a heartbreaking loss in five sets to the host BearKats. UL played with Pac 12-foe Colorado the next day, battling tough in the second and third sets, then collected the season's first win with a straight sets sweep of Texas Southern.

“The weekend was disappointing in the sense that we didn't win more, but very worthwhile in being able to see what we are doing well and where we need some work,” head coach Heather Mazeitis-Fontenot stated. “I really feel that the schedule was very grueling…to play five sets late Friday night, lose a heartbreaker then to have to turn around and play a PAC 12 team at 10 o'clock in the morning was tough.”

Lavinia Tataran led the Cajuns in kills each match at SHSU, throwing down 15 vs. SHSU and tallying a combined 15 in both matches Saturday. Libero Caitlyn Auxilien registered a career-high 34 digs in the opener vs. SHSU and finished the weekend with 58 digs over 11 sets (5.27 digs per set).

Preseason All-Sun Belt selection Mandi Gavin entered the season needing 816 assists to become only the fourth player in school history with 3,000 career assists. Gavin picked up 94 assists at the Sam Houston Invitational, lowering the amount needed for 3,000 assists to 722 assists.

The Cajuns are beginning to re-establish Earl K. Long Gym as a tough venue for opponents. The squad has posted 18 wins combined the last two seasons (18-7 record).

Joining the Cajuns for the home opening event is Houston Baptist, McNeese State and Southern Miss.

“We look forward to having these teams in our gym,” Mazeitis-Fontenot said. “It will be a quality tournament. They're very similar programs to us. We are all middle-of-the-road conference teams that are waiting to make the jump.”

The weekend is also an opportunity for the Cajuns to continue to adjust to a new offense. With the loss of All-Sun Belt performer Lesley Mirarchi, UL switched to a “6-2 set” on offense which features both setters, Mandi Gavin and Andrea Hole, on the court at the same time.

“First impression is it's going to work. Second impression is it needs some work,” Mazeitis-Fontenot remarked at Monday's media luncheon. “We saw some great things last weekend. Andrea Hole making the all-tournament team was because she was allowed to hit and set which allowed everyone to see her entire game. Same goes for Mandi Gavin…her whole game opened up in the three rotations she was allowed to be an attacker.

“It's going to work, but we're going to need production from our left side,” Mazeitis-Fontenot added. “Our right side is producing points, now we need the left side attackers have got to produce more points.”

Fans can follow all of the action from the Bon Temps Invitational at RaginCajuns.com. Live stats for all matches will be free. Live video, via Ragin' Cajuns Network All-Access, can be purchased with packages starting as low as $6.95 for a 24-hour access pass.

For all of the latest news and information on Ragin' Cajuns Athletics, visit RaginCajuns.com. Fans can also follow the athletics department on its social media outlets at www.Facebook.com/ULRaginCajuns along with @ULRaginCajuns on Twitter.

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Volleyball Opens Home Slate With Bon Temps Invitational

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