@RaginCajunsVB Reports to Campus, Begins Practice Wednesday

LAFAYETTE – Head coach Heather Mazeitis-Fontenot and her staff welcomed back members of the Louisiana Volleyball team to campus on Tuesday, signaling the start of preseason camp for the upcoming 2018 season.

Tuesday was spent conducting team meetings and fulfilling other obligations before on-court practice begins Wednesday morning at Earl K. Long Gym.

"Our staff is excited that the team is here together once again," Mazeitis-Fontenot said. "They were here all summer and worked extremely hard. Now it's time to begin working together as a group."

Heading into the 11th season under Mazeitis-Fontenot's guidance, Louisiana returns five starters from the 2017 season highlighted by three returning All-Sun Belt Conference performers in middle blocker Dree'Ana Abram, libero Sydney Davis and 2017 SBC Freshman of the Year Hali Wisnoskie.

The Ragin' Cajuns also have a talented group of eight newcomers headlined by Incarnate Word transfer setter Gemma Cantone and freshmen Kelsey Bennett (5-11, OH, Allen, Texas), Desiree Johnson (5-11, RS, Forney, Texas) and Tia Smith (6-2, MB, Houston, Texas).

"We're both young and experienced," Mazeitis-Fontenot stated. "The main focus in preseason, other than getting our newcomers up to speed, is getting all of us back in line with the standards – in our gym and how we practice – that we began to create three years ago.

"We've got some great newcomers that will be pushing for spots," Mazeitis-Fontenot added. "That will be exciting to watch."

The Ragin' Cajuns (21-11, 13-3 SBC in 2017) are seeking to build upon the program's finest season in the Sun Belt Conference era (1991-present). During the 2017 season, the squad raced out to a school-record 7-0 start in league play, posted the first winning conference mark since 2002 and set the school record for SBC wins. The reward was the program's highest seed ever (No. 3) in the SBC Tournament.

"We placed a big focus on defense last year, and it will be key again this year," Mazeitis-Fontenot said. "The girls have already started talking about defense and how they want to strive to be at the top of the conference."

Louisiana will hold practice over the next two weeks prior to the start of classes on Aug. 20. An exhibition match vs. Houston Baptist will be held on Aug. 18 at Earl K. Long Gym, then the 2018 campaign begins Friday-Saturday, Aug. 24-25 in New Orleans at Tulane's I-10 Challenge.

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@RaginCajunsVB Reports to Campus, Begins Practice Wednesday

Players Mentioned

Dree'Ana Abram

Kelsey Bennett

Gemma Cantone

Sydney Davis

Desiree Johnson

Tia Jade Smith

Hali Wisnoskie

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