University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Thursday, September 9
Edinburg, Texas
7:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
3-2
2
at
3
UTRGV
3-3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 25 | 23 | 27 | 21 | 12 | 2 |
| UTRGV | 20 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 15 | 3 |
Duel in the Valley Ends with UTRGV Slipping Past Louisiana Volleyball
9/9/2021 10:00:00 PM | Volleyball
Ragin’ Cajuns’ efforts charged by a career-high 27 kills from Kelsey Bennett
EDINBURG, Texas – A late push in the decisive fifth set allowed UTRGV to capture a 3-2 (20-25, 25-23, 25-27, 25-21, 15-12) over Louisiana Volleyball on Thursday (Sept. 9) in a match in which Ragin' Cajuns outside hitter Kelsey Bennett scored a career-high 27 kills.
Bennett's tally, her second straight match with 20-plus kills, matched Louisiana's rally scoring era record previously reached by Hali Wisnoskie (Sept. 25, 2020 at Little Rock) and Kim Rodgers (Aug. 20, 2003 vs. Alcorn State). It was also the second straight outing she set a new career-high total, following up the 24 kills at Southern Miss back on Aug. 28.
The Ragin' Cajuns (3-2) and Vaqueros (3-3) were locked in fierce duel for the match victory with 10 ties and five lead changes occurring in the final stanza.
Louisiana forged ahead at 12-11 following a block solo from Kara Barnes, however UTRGV claimed the point on the ensuing four rallies to slip away with the victory in its home opener.
After splitting the first two sets, the match lead returned to Louisiana behind the lead of Cami Hicks and Bennett. Hicks registered a kill on each of her five swings in the frame while Bennett secured set point with back-to-back kills following a 25-all deadlock.
The Vaqueros raced out to a 5-1 lead in the fourth set and never trailed on the way to evening the match and forcing the winner-take-all scenario.
LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Bennett started the night off with eight kills in the first set, and went on to post at least five in every frame through the fourth stanza.
Hicks and Emery Judkins also reached double digits in kills, finishing with 11 apiece. The tally was a season-high total for Judkins.
Barnes totaled nine blocks (2 BS, 7 BA) in leading Louisiana to a 13-8 advantage over UTRGV on the frontline.
Siena DeCambra continued to flourish as the Ragin' Cajuns setter in the 5-1 system as she handed out 55 assists and directed the squad to a .254 match hitting percentage. It was DeCambra's second 50-plus assist effort of the young season and the fourth time in five matches she averaged 11-plus assists per set.
Hannah Ramirez hauled in a match-high 19 digs as she extended her streak of consecutive matches with double-digit digs to 41 straight dating back to Oct. 2019.
Double-doubles were accomplished by Bennett and DeCambra who posted 18 and 13 digs, respectively. Bennett has four double-doubles in five matches this season.
Jordan Valley had 13 digs and Brianna Franklin collected 10 digs – the highest totals for both as a Ragin' Cajun – to give Louisiana five players in double figures resulting in an 82-75 digs advantage over UTRGV.
UP NEXT
Louisiana continues play in the UTRGV Tournament in Edinburg on Friday (Sept. 10) with a 3 p.m. match against Texas Southern.
The contest with the Tigers from the UTRGV Fieldhouse is being streamed on the WAC Digital Network. A link for live stats is available on the Volleyball schedule page at RaginCajuns.com.
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.
Bennett's tally, her second straight match with 20-plus kills, matched Louisiana's rally scoring era record previously reached by Hali Wisnoskie (Sept. 25, 2020 at Little Rock) and Kim Rodgers (Aug. 20, 2003 vs. Alcorn State). It was also the second straight outing she set a new career-high total, following up the 24 kills at Southern Miss back on Aug. 28.
The Ragin' Cajuns (3-2) and Vaqueros (3-3) were locked in fierce duel for the match victory with 10 ties and five lead changes occurring in the final stanza.
Louisiana forged ahead at 12-11 following a block solo from Kara Barnes, however UTRGV claimed the point on the ensuing four rallies to slip away with the victory in its home opener.
After splitting the first two sets, the match lead returned to Louisiana behind the lead of Cami Hicks and Bennett. Hicks registered a kill on each of her five swings in the frame while Bennett secured set point with back-to-back kills following a 25-all deadlock.
The Vaqueros raced out to a 5-1 lead in the fourth set and never trailed on the way to evening the match and forcing the winner-take-all scenario.
LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Bennett started the night off with eight kills in the first set, and went on to post at least five in every frame through the fourth stanza.
Hicks and Emery Judkins also reached double digits in kills, finishing with 11 apiece. The tally was a season-high total for Judkins.
Barnes totaled nine blocks (2 BS, 7 BA) in leading Louisiana to a 13-8 advantage over UTRGV on the frontline.
Siena DeCambra continued to flourish as the Ragin' Cajuns setter in the 5-1 system as she handed out 55 assists and directed the squad to a .254 match hitting percentage. It was DeCambra's second 50-plus assist effort of the young season and the fourth time in five matches she averaged 11-plus assists per set.
Hannah Ramirez hauled in a match-high 19 digs as she extended her streak of consecutive matches with double-digit digs to 41 straight dating back to Oct. 2019.
Double-doubles were accomplished by Bennett and DeCambra who posted 18 and 13 digs, respectively. Bennett has four double-doubles in five matches this season.
Jordan Valley had 13 digs and Brianna Franklin collected 10 digs – the highest totals for both as a Ragin' Cajun – to give Louisiana five players in double figures resulting in an 82-75 digs advantage over UTRGV.
UP NEXT
Louisiana continues play in the UTRGV Tournament in Edinburg on Friday (Sept. 10) with a 3 p.m. match against Texas Southern.
The contest with the Tigers from the UTRGV Fieldhouse is being streamed on the WAC Digital Network. A link for live stats is available on the Volleyball schedule page at RaginCajuns.com.
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 -
Team Stats
LA
UTRGV
Kills
64
66
Errors
21
35
Attempts
169
196
Hitting %
.254
.158
Points
77.0
81.0
Assists
59
63
Aces
0
7
Blocks
13.0
8.0
Game Leaders
Kills
27
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
9
Players Mentioned
MB
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
DS
/ VolleyballMB
/ VolleyballRS
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ Volleyball
DS
/ Volleyball
OH
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