Bennett, Gillett Highlight Volleyball's All-Louisiana Selections

LAFAYETTE - Kelsey Bennett earned first team honors, Coco Gillett received second team honors and Siena DeCambra was an honorable mention selection in representing Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball on the 2021 Louisiana Sports Writers Association (LSWA) All-Louisiana Volleyball team.

Announced on Thursday (Dec. 30), the 2021 LSWA volleyball honors were selected by a voting panel which consisted of members of the state's sports information departments.

Both Bennett and Gillett picked up another postseason honor as the duo also represented Louisiana on the 2021 All-Sun Belt team, each receiving the same designation from the conference (first and second team).

Bennett received her second career All-Louisiana selection - was a second team pick in 2020 - after producing a third consecutive 200-200 season of kills and digs, and the first-ever 300-300 season of her collegiate career. The Allen, Texas product generated career-highs of 374 kills and 338 digs and was the only outside hitter in Sun Belt Conference with 300 kills and a .250-plus hitting percentage during regular season.

Gillett, who debuted with the Ragin' Cajuns this fall after transferring from SFA, produced a career-best 294 kills on .219 hitting percentage. She generated double digits in kills in 17 of 25 matches, notched eight double-doubles and posted 10 matches of double-digit kills and .250-plus hitting percentage.

DeCambra ranked Top 10 in assists per set among Sun Belt setters and ranked second on Louisiana's roster with 12 double-doubles while primarily operating the 6-2 attack. The Odessa College transfer helped direct Louisiana's offense to a .230 hitting percentage – the program's rally scoring era best mark.

Bennett's first team selection marks the sixth consecutive season (2016-21) that Louisiana has a representative on the All-Louisiana first team. For the fifth time in those six seasons, the Ragin' Cajuns received multiple All-Louisiana selections increasing the number of honorees to 14 during the time period.

Taylor Bannister (LSU) was named Player of the Year, Raigen Cianciulli (LSU) was chosen Libero of the Year, Cicily Hidalgo (Southeastern Louisiana) was voted the Freshman of the Year and Newcomer of the Year accolades went to Kylie DeBerg (LSU). Loyola of New Orleans' head coach Jesse Zabal received Coach of the Year distinction.

2021 LSWA All-Louisiana Volleyball Teams
First Team
RS – Taylor Bannister, LSU
OH – Kelsey Bennett, Louisiana
OH – Kylie DeBerg, LSU
OH – Lexie Douglas, Tulane
OH – Cicily Hidalgo, Southeastern Louisiana
OH – Simone Tyson, Loyola
Libero – Raigen Cianciulli, LSU

Player of the Year: Taylor Bannister, LSU
Libero of the Year: Raigen Cianciulli, LSU
Newcomer of the Year: Kylie DeBerg, LSU
Freshman of the Year: Cicily Hidalgo, Southeastern Louisiana
Coach of the Year: Jesse Zabal, Loyola

Second Team
OH – Cali Assaley, ULM
MB/OH – Demari Drake, Dillard
OH – Emily Gauthreaux, Nicholls
OH – Coco Gillett, Louisiana
OH – Aryn Johnson, McNeese
OH – Symone Wesley, Northwestern State
Libero – McKenzie Johnson, Louisiana Tech

Honorable Mention
S – Siena DeCambra, Louisiana; S – Taylor Henigsman, Tulane; S – Ella Larkin, LSU; MB – Vivica Price-Spraggins, Xavier. Libero – Haley Hoang, Northwestern State; Simone Moreau, Loyola.

ABOUT LOUISIANA
The 2021 season served as the inaugural campaign for Louisiana with head coach Kristi Gray, who was hired on April 26 after five highly successful seasons at Odessa College.

Much like the success she experienced in her five-year tenure at Odessa College prior to arriving in Louisiana, Gray orchestrated instant success with the Ragin' Cajuns (15-11, 9-7 Sun Belt).

Louisiana operated one of the Sun Belt's most efficient and exciting offenses by utilizing Gray's up-tempo system. The team led the conference in hitting percentage through Oct. 23, remaining in the Top 5 through season's end and finishing at .230 which is the program's rally era record.

Boosted by a clean sweep of the first round of SBC West Division play, which included the program's first-ever win over Texas State in San Marcos, Louisiana was in contention for the division title entering the month of November.

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 -

Bennett, Gillett Highlight Volleyball's All-Louisiana Selections

Players Mentioned

Kelsey Bennett

Siena DeCambra

Coco Gillett

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