University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Friday, October 2
Monroe, La.
6 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
10-0, 4-0SBC
3
at
1
ULM
1-6, 0-4SBC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 25 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
| ULM | 18 | 25 | 17 | 12 | 1 |
Louisiana Finds Its Footing and Pulls Away From Warhawks
10/2/2020 10:29:00 PM | Volleyball
After slow start, offense hits cruise control to secure opener in Monroe
MONROE – With a strong push to the finish line the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball team kept its undefeated start to the 2020 season intact and posted a 3-1 (25-20, 23-25, 25-17, 25-12) win over ULM on Friday at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
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With 34 kills on a .429 hitting percentage over the final two sets Louisiana (10-0, 4-0 Sun Belt) was able to outdistance itself from ULM (1-6, 0-4 Sun Belt) and break a tie in the match. The result was a 10th consecutive victory to start the season, matching the 2014 team for the second-best start in program history.
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The trio of Kelsey Bennett, Taylor Gates and Hali Wisnoskie combined for 26 kills during the last two stanzas to help the Ragin' Cajuns fend off the upset-minded Warhawks. Louisiana ended the match with a commanding 58-35 edge in kills.
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An unusual amount of attack errors – 14 through the first two sets – placed the Ragin' Cajuns in limbo at intermission. The squad would commit only four the rest of the night, paving the way for a dominant finish.
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In the third set, Louisiana turned to Bennett and Gates during two key scoring sprees that widened a one-point lead. Bennett scored three kills during a 5-0 run which stretched the lead to 15-9, then it was Gates with two timely kills during a 4-0 spurt that opened a 19-10 advantage.
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Bennett's seventh and final kill of the third set put an end to a Warhawks run that had trimmed the Ragin' Cajuns lead to 20-15, then a few short rallies later Wisnoskie landed set point.
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Louisiana was able to shake off the Warhawks earlier in the fourth set, snapping a 4-all tie with a kill from Bennett then riding the serve of Hannah Ramirez out to an 11-4 lead. With four straight kills the Ragin' Cajuns broke open a 12-8 contest and fought off the final charge from the Warhawks.
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LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Bennett produced team-leading totals of 17 kills and 16 digs, collecting a double-double for the fourth straight match to start Sun Belt play.
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Wisnoskie scored 15 kills and added 14 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. Gates recorded a new season-high total of 14 kills, landing eight off of 11 error-free swings in the final two sets helping the Ragin' Cajuns take control.
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Barnes supplied four blocks and nine kills off of 15 swings on a .400 hitting percentage. Bennett and Gates each had a hand in three blocks.
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Avery Breaux (13 digs), Ramirez (11 digs) and Milayne Danna (10 digs) each reached double figures in digs giving Louisiana five players hitting the mark. The Ragin' Cajuns out-dug the Warhawks 73-57.
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Adding in 45 assists to her stat line, Breaux picked up her team-high tying fifth double-double. She also inched closer to 2,000 career collegiate assists, upping the total to 1,995.
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UP NEXT
The Ragin' Cajuns and Warhawks wrap up the two-match Sun Belt series in Monroe with a matinee on Saturday at Fant-Ewing Coliseum. First serve is set for 1 p.m.
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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.
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With 34 kills on a .429 hitting percentage over the final two sets Louisiana (10-0, 4-0 Sun Belt) was able to outdistance itself from ULM (1-6, 0-4 Sun Belt) and break a tie in the match. The result was a 10th consecutive victory to start the season, matching the 2014 team for the second-best start in program history.
Â
The trio of Kelsey Bennett, Taylor Gates and Hali Wisnoskie combined for 26 kills during the last two stanzas to help the Ragin' Cajuns fend off the upset-minded Warhawks. Louisiana ended the match with a commanding 58-35 edge in kills.
Â
An unusual amount of attack errors – 14 through the first two sets – placed the Ragin' Cajuns in limbo at intermission. The squad would commit only four the rest of the night, paving the way for a dominant finish.
Â
In the third set, Louisiana turned to Bennett and Gates during two key scoring sprees that widened a one-point lead. Bennett scored three kills during a 5-0 run which stretched the lead to 15-9, then it was Gates with two timely kills during a 4-0 spurt that opened a 19-10 advantage.
Â
Bennett's seventh and final kill of the third set put an end to a Warhawks run that had trimmed the Ragin' Cajuns lead to 20-15, then a few short rallies later Wisnoskie landed set point.
Â
Louisiana was able to shake off the Warhawks earlier in the fourth set, snapping a 4-all tie with a kill from Bennett then riding the serve of Hannah Ramirez out to an 11-4 lead. With four straight kills the Ragin' Cajuns broke open a 12-8 contest and fought off the final charge from the Warhawks.
Â
LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Bennett produced team-leading totals of 17 kills and 16 digs, collecting a double-double for the fourth straight match to start Sun Belt play.
Â
Wisnoskie scored 15 kills and added 14 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. Gates recorded a new season-high total of 14 kills, landing eight off of 11 error-free swings in the final two sets helping the Ragin' Cajuns take control.
Â
Barnes supplied four blocks and nine kills off of 15 swings on a .400 hitting percentage. Bennett and Gates each had a hand in three blocks.
Â
Avery Breaux (13 digs), Ramirez (11 digs) and Milayne Danna (10 digs) each reached double figures in digs giving Louisiana five players hitting the mark. The Ragin' Cajuns out-dug the Warhawks 73-57.
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Adding in 45 assists to her stat line, Breaux picked up her team-high tying fifth double-double. She also inched closer to 2,000 career collegiate assists, upping the total to 1,995.
Â
UP NEXT
The Ragin' Cajuns and Warhawks wrap up the two-match Sun Belt series in Monroe with a matinee on Saturday at Fant-Ewing Coliseum. First serve is set for 1 p.m.
Â
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.
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- www.RaginCajuns.com -
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
DS/S
/ Volleyball
RS/S
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ Volleyball
OH
/ VolleyballTeam Stats
LA
ULM
Kills
58
35
Errors
18
24
Attempts
153
159
Hitting %
.261
.069
Points
70.0
48.0
Assists
53
33
Aces
4
7
Blocks
8.0
6.0
Game Leaders
Kills
17
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
14
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
4
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