Louisiana to Take the Court Thursday in Sun Belt Tournament Opener

SAN MARCOS, Texas – Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball begins competing for a championship on Thursday, Nov. 21, when the squad meets No. 8 seed Arkansas State in the opening round of the 2019 Sun Belt Conference Tournament at Strahan Arena on the campus of Texas State University.

First serve for the match is scheduled for 5 p.m. Live video coverage will be available on ESPN+.

Meeting for the third time this season, the rematch between the Ragin' Cajuns (14-15) and Red Wolves (16-12) occurs less than one week from a four-set win by Louisiana on Friday, Nov. 15 in Jonesboro, which completed the season series sweep.

The winner of Thursday's matchup advances to face No. 4 seed Troy (21-8) in the quarterfinal round of the Sun Belt Tournament on Friday at 5 p.m.

Louisiana, returning to the Sun Belt Tournament after a one-year hiatus, is the No. 5 seed for this year's event. The Ragin' Cajuns enter the race for the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament as winners of five straight and nine of the past 10 matches overall.

The SBC Tournament, which utilizes a single-elimination format, runs through Sunday, Nov. 24 in San Marcos. Louisiana's half of the bracket, headed by No. 1 seed Texas State, is slotted for Saturday's 2:30 p.m. semifinal contest. The tournament's championship match is slated for 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Fans can follow Louisiana's participation in the tournament through the live stats and live video links at RaginCajuns.com/2019VB and with updates posted on the team's Twitter account (@RaginCajunsVB).

THE MATCH DETAILS
Match 30: Louisiana (14-15) vs. Arkansas State (16-12)
Thursday, Nov. 21 • 5:00 p.m. (CST) • Strahan Arena (10,000) • San Marcos, Texas
Television: ESPN+
Series: Arkansas State leads 47-18
Streak: Louisiana +3
Last Meeting: 11/15/19 in Jonesboro, Ark. – Louisiana W, 3-1 (26-24, 18-25, 25-21, 25-14)
Watch | Live Stats | Sun Belt Tournament Central

SUN BELT TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Appearances: 13 (1991, 1997-2002, 2010, 2012-14, 2017, 2019)
All-Time Record: 5-13
Best Finish: Semifinals (1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2017)
Last Tournament Match: 11/18/2017 in Jonesboro, Ark. – vs. Texas State L, 1-3 (16-25, 25-18, 22-25, 14-25)

COACH MAZEITIS-FONTENOT'S THOUGHTS
Describing the key component of the team's season turnaround
"Some of it is Hali (Wisnoskie) having some amazing numbers at this point, but I really think they're starting to click as a group. I see similarities to the 2017 team: this team gets on the court and they're like 'alright, let's just get to work' – and they put on their hard hats and go at it.

They have a trust in each other right now that they can conquer anything. They're really dialed in, and in a really good place. This is an exciting time."

ABOUT LOUISIANA
Louisiana enters the SBC Tournament as the hottest team, sparked by a remarkable turnaround following a 1-5 start to Sun Belt Conference play. Improved offensive efficiency, hitting .224 since Oct. 18, and an even more fortified defense, limiting league foes to a .135 percentage during the same timeframe, have been the catalysts for the newfound fortune.

Individually, All-Sun Belt First Team selection Hali Wisnoskie experienced a revival of her All-Sun Belt caliber play from the previous two seasons in leading the surge to the finish line, totaling 173 kills at an average of 4.68 kills per set on a .300 hitting percentage since Oct. 18.

Junior setter Avery Breaux, an All-Sun Belt Second Team choice, developed as the team's primary setter running the 5-1 attack after taking over at the start of league play. She delivered an average of 10.2 assists per set in league play, while continuing to be a vital part of the team's defensive efforts averaging 2.7 digs per set.

Breaux reached the 30-assist mark in all but one SBC outing, surpassing 40 assists on six occasions. She was one of only five setters in the league to average double figures in assists per set in conference play, steering the team to a .210 percentage (up from .162 in non-conference play).

On the front line, the middle blocking tandem of senior Dree'Ana Abram and sophomore Tia Jade Smith has combined for 163 total blocks. Outside hitter Kelsey Bennett serves as the unsung hero, contributing both offensively and defensively with a 200-200 season of kills and digs.

The back row is shored up by Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year Hannah Ramirez, who was consistent in her efforts all season long – averaging nearly the same digs per set in SBC play (4.60) as non-conference (4.58).

SET POINTS

Louisiana claimed double-figure wins in Sun Belt play, and finished as runner-up in the West Division, for the second time in the past three seasons.
The Ragin' Cajuns' 30-18 mark in SBC play dating back to 2017, represents the program's most wins over a three-year span since the conference began utilizing a schedule of at least 14 matches back in 1998.
In the two regular season meetings combined, Louisiana's defense limited Arkansas State to a combined .022 hitting percentage (71 K, 65 E, 279 TA).
Louisiana has ranked Top 20 nationally – and led the Sun Belt Conference – in digs per set the entire season. The present average of 18.0 digs per set ranks No. 8 in the latest NCAA stats report. The Ragin' Cajuns have scooped at least 50 digs in all but two matches.
Hali Wisnoskie carries an active streak of 10 consecutive matches with double-digit kills – all coming during Louisiana's 9-1 run – into the Sun Belt Tournament.
Hali Wisnoskie dominated in Sun Belt Conference play, producing 235 kills at a rate of 3.85 per set – both career-high figures.
In the regular season finale at Little Rock, Hali Wisnoskie scored at least eight kills every set on the way to a new career-best, single-match total of 26 kills. That night, she also eclipsed the 1,000-career kills mark before her junior season expires.
On last week's Arkansas trip, Hali Wisnoskie pushed her season kills total past 300 for the third consecutive season. She became only the second player in the 44-year history of the program to record three straight seasons of 300 kills (joining all-time program and Sun Belt great Nia Kiggundu who first accomplished the feat from 1993-95).
Setter Avery Breaux has an active streak of 12 consecutive matches delivering 30-plus assists. During Sun Belt play, Breaux handed out an average of 10 or more assists per set in five of the eight weekends.
Avery Breaux led Louisiana with 14 double-doubles during the regular season. It's the most by a Louisiana setter in a season since Andrea Hole generated 23 double-doubles in 2014.
Reigning Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Week Kelsey Bennett totaled at least 17 digs each evening on the Arkansas road trip. As a result, she stretched her string of consecutive matches with double-digit digs to seven straight.
In Sun Belt play, Kelsey Bennett collected 228 digs at a rate of 3.74 per set – second only to libero Hannah Ramirez – key in Louisiana limiting foes to a .168 percentage in league play.
On Friday, Nov. 8 in Monroe, senior Dree'Ana Abram became just the third Ragin' Cajun to reach 300 career blocks in the rally scoring era. She's averaged 96 blocks over the past three seasons to reach the mark.
Tia Jade Smith has enjoyed a breakout season on the front line, ranking fifth in the Sun Belt in blocks per set in conference play (1.06 per set). Overall, she has increased her season blocks total by 60-plus from her freshman campaign, and needs 10 more to reach the century mark.
Tia Jade Smith has the knack for providing timely kills, producing at least five kills on less than 20 swings in 11 of 16 Sun Belt matches. For the season, she has scored 151 kills off only 357 swings and a .291 hitting percentage.
In her collegiate debut season, Celeste Darling is on the verge of delivering a 200-kills campaign for Louisiana (enters SBC Tournament at 198). In doing so, she has scored at least five kills in 17 matches, reaching double digits six times.
Hannah Ramirez scooped double digits in digs in all but three of Louisiana's 29 matches, rounding up 15-plus digs on 16 occasions, and reaching the 20-dig mark nine times. Ramirez stands 37 digs away from reaching 500 this season.

FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter (@RaginCajunsVB), Facebook (/RaginCajunsVB) or Instagram (@RaginCajunsVB) to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Louisiana Volleyball.

- www.RaginCajuns.com -

Louisiana to Take the Court Thursday in Sun Belt Tournament Opener

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Louisiana to Take the Court Thursday in Sun Belt Tournament Opener

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