First Road Outing Takes Louisiana Volleyball to Oklahoma

NORMAN, Okla. – Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball takes in its first matches away from home in the 2019 season on Friday and Saturday when the squad competes in the Oklahoma Nike Invitational at McCasland Field House.

The Ragin' Cajuns (4-3), who recently completed a season-opening, seven-match homestand, carry a four-match win streak into a challenging slate against Power 5 foes Arizona State, Georgia Tech and Oklahoma.

During the four-match win streak, the Ragin' Cajuns are collectively hitting .238, averaging 13.5 kills per set and 18.3 digs per set, and sport a balanced attack of four attackers landing two-plus kills per set.

Louisiana opens play in the OU Nike Invitational on Friday facing Arizona State at 11 a.m. and Georgia Tech at 5 p.m. The weekend wraps up at 11 a.m. on Saturday against the host-Sooners.

The trip to Norman marks the start of a three-week road trip for Louisiana, which continues Sept. 20-21 at Florida for the conclusion of non-conference play, then teaks the team to Texas for the start of Sun Belt Conference play (Sept. 27-28).

THE MATCHES
Match 8: Louisiana (4-3) vs. Arizona State (4-2)
Friday, Sept. 13 • 11:00 a.m. (CDT) • McCasland Field House (4,640) • Norman, Okla.
Series: First Meeting
Live Stats

Match 9: Louisiana (4-3) vs. Georgia Tech (5-1)
Friday, Sept. 13 • 5:00 p.m. (CDT) • McCasland Field House (4,640) • Norman, Okla.
Series: Georgia Tech leads 1-0
Last Meeting: 9/7/12 in Gainesville, Fla. (at Florida) – Georgia Tech W, 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-20)
Live Stats

Match 10: Louisiana (4-3) vs. Oklahoma (4-2)
Saturday, Sept. 14 • 11:00 a.m. (CDT) • McCasland Field House (4,640) • Norman, Okla.
Series: Tied 1-1
Last Meeting: 8/31/01 in Huntsville, Texas (at SHSU) – Louisiana W, 3-1 (30-19, 28-30, 30-24, 30-25)
Live Stats

SET POINTS

Beginning with the Arizona State matchup, the Ragin' Cajuns are set to play four consecutive contests against Power 5 foes. The stretch ends when the squad meets Florida next Friday in its first match at the Gators Invitational.
The last time Louisiana and Oklahoma met it was the very first contest both programs played under the present rally scoring era model. The Ragin' Cajuns won in four sets back on Aug. 31, 2001 in Huntsville, Texas.
After hitting sub-.100 during opening weekend, the Ragin' Cajuns have turned the dial up on offense to the tune of a .238 percentage since the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic.
Two-plus weeks into the season the Ragin' Cajuns lead the Sun Belt Conference averaging 18.5 digs per set, a figure which ranks the squad Top 10 nationally.
The Ragin' Cajuns have scooped at least 50 digs in each of the seven matches contested so far this season.
Reigning Sun Belt Freshman of the Week Celeste Darling landed 41 kills (3.42 per set) on a .404 percentage in last weekend's Sawyer Camillo Classic. Twice she set her season-high in kills total (16 vs. McNeese and 17 vs. FAMU).
Holding Southern Miss to a .104 hitting percentage in Tuesday's sweep marked the fourth straight outing limiting foes to a sub-.200 clip.
Two-time All-Sun Belt performer Hali Wisnoskie pushed her career kills total past 700 last weekend. Adding in seven kills on Tuesday vs. Southern Miss, Wisnoskie now owns 715 career kills.
Senior middle blocker Dree'Ana Abram provided several timely kills during the Sawyer Camillo Classic, scoring 25 on only 48 swings. She hit above .350 all three matches and led the team with five aces.
Louisiana's offense features a balanced attack with Celeste Darling's 2.87 kills per set leading a group of six players who are averaging at least 1.75 kills per set.
Dree'Ana Abram and Tia Jade Smith have been Louisiana's leading blockers on the front line. Abram (21) and Smith (17) have combined for 38 blocks.
Louisiana settled on the 6-2 scheme, running it all three matches of the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic. Setters Avery Breaux and Gemma Cantone handed out 74 and 57 assists, respectively, running the system.
JUCO transfer Hannah Ramirez has represented Louisiana on an all-tournament team each of the past two weeks. Serving as the team's libero, Ramirez averages 4.5 digs per set.
Head coach Heather Mazeitis-Fontenot is closing in on 400 career wins. She collected her 390th win with Tuesday's sweep of Southern Miss.

ABOUT LOUISIANA
Highlighting the list of returners is junior outside hitter Hali Wisnoskie, a two-time All-Sun Belt selection and preseason all-conference choice for 2019, who owns a pair of 300-plus kills seasons and senior middle blocker Dree'Ana Abram who has dominated at the net with back-to-back seasons of 90-plus blocks.

Other returning starters include right side hitter Desiree Johnson who appeared in every match and set during her rookie campaign and setters Avery Breaux and Milayne Danna who directed the 6-2 offense in 2018.

Tia Jade Smith, who showed she can be a force in the middle during a key two-week stretch in the second half of Sun Belt play last season, is expected to make an impact.

The Ragin' Cajuns welcome a pair of newcomers from the junior college ranks in standout libero Hannah Ramirez from Panola College along with Lafayette native Elise Baranco who returns home after one season at Pratt (Kan.) Community College.

Freshmen team members include Dallas Skyline Juniors standouts Kara Barnes and Celeste Darling and Parker, Colo., product Claire Turner.

UP NEXT
Louisiana completes non-conference play at the Gators Invitational in Gainesville, Fla., scheduled for Friday-Saturday, Sept. 20-21. The Ragin' Cajuns will face host-Florida, Northern Arizona and Liberty at UF's Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O'Connell Center.

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 -

First Road Outing Takes Louisiana Volleyball to Oklahoma

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Dree'Ana Abram

Elise Baranco

Kara Barnes

Avery Breaux

Gemma Cantone

Milayne Danna

Celeste Darling

Desiree Johnson

Hannah Ramirez

Tia Jade Smith

Claire Turner

Hali Wisnoskie

Footer

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics

First Road Outing Takes Louisiana Volleyball to Oklahoma

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Dree'Ana Abram

Elise Baranco

Kara Barnes

Avery Breaux

Gemma Cantone

Milayne Danna

Celeste Darling

Desiree Johnson

Hannah Ramirez

Tia Jade Smith

Claire Turner

Hali Wisnoskie

Related Videos

Footer