Louisiana Volleyball Visits South Alabama, Seeks to Gain Ground in SBC West

MOBILE, Ala. – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball team looks to return to contention in the Sun Belt West Division when the squad faces current co-leader South Alabama in a two-match series from Thursday-Friday, October 13-14 at Jaguar Gym in Mobile, Alabama.

The Ragin' Cajuns (9-6, 3-3 Sun Belt) and Jaguars (11-7, 5-1 Sun Belt) are slated to meet at 6:00 p.m. both nights. The matches are being broadcast on ESPN+ with live stats available at CajunStats.com.

For the second straight week, the Ragin' Cajuns face off with a SBC West leader – coming off a series with Texas State last weekend at Earl K. Long Gym.

Louisiana is in search of a bounce back after last weekend's sweep at the hands of Texas State pushed the team down the division standings and two games back off the lead.

SERIES HISTORY
- South Alabama: Louisiana leads, 36-19 | Last match: L, 1-3 on 10/22/2021 at Earl K. Long Gym
Sun Belt Matches: Louisiana leads, 25-15 | Current Streak: Lost 1

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

Getting Reacquainted: It's Louisiana's first visit to Jaguar Gym in Mobile since the 2019 season.
First Half Push: The series at South Alabama closes out the first half of the conference schedule.
Arriving on the Scene: Freshman Lauryn Hill has stepped up in conference play, having tallied the most kills (54) and digs (73) over the first three weekends.
Name a Better Duo: Two of the Sun Belt's top middle blockers are Ragin' Cajuns: Cami Hicks and Kara Barnes. The duo ranks Top 10 in the league in blocks per set. Hicks averages the third-most blocks per set in the SBC (1.16/set) and has totaled 67 blocks.
Tried and True: For the season, Louisiana is led offensively by Kelsey Bennett who ranks Top 10 in the SBC at 3.2 kills per set. The two-year running All-Sun Belt performer surpassed the 1,000-mark in career kills and digs on September 2 – the accomplishment occurring on Louisiana's home opening day – and ranks second in career kills in the Ragin' Cajuns rally scoring era records with 1,117.

NEW FACES
- Kristi Gray welcomed five newcomers to the program in the offseason. Transfers Mya Wilson (Georgia Southern), Paige Guidry (Nicholls), Celeste Darling (Houston) and Paola Garcia (UNLV), plus incoming freshman Lauryn Hill (Frisco, Texas/Liberty HS) as the newest members of the squad.
- Wilson hit .220-plus and accumulated at least 150 kills and 50 blocks each season at Georgia Southern (2019-21). Darling, who returns to Louisiana after competing as a freshman with the Ragin' Cajuns in 2019, helped lead Houston to the American Athletic Conference West Division title in the 2020-21 season and a 20-win season the following fall campaign.

PRESEASON PRAISE
Kelsey Bennett and Coco Gillett, both All-Sun Belt Conference selections in 2021, represented Louisiana on the 2022 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Volleyball team.

UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana has its first cross-divisional matchup of the 2022 season when Sun Belt East foe Old Dominion makes its way to Earl K. Long Gym for a two-match series from Thursday-Friday, October 20-21.

First serve both nights against the Monarchs is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Live stats via CajunStats.com will be available both nights, while ESPN+ coverage is available on Friday (Oct. 21) only.

The Ragin' Cajuns will be celebrating Dig Pink Weekend highlighted by Student Organization Night on Friday (Oct. 21).

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.

Fans are also encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.

- www.RaginCajuns.com -

Louisiana Volleyball Visits South Alabama, Seeks to Gain Ground in SBC West

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Players Mentioned

Kara Barnes

Kelsey Bennett

Celeste Darling

Paola Garcia

Coco Gillett

Paige Guidry

Cami Hicks

Lauryn Hill

Mya Wilson

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University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics

Louisiana Volleyball Visits South Alabama, Seeks to Gain Ground in SBC West

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Kara Barnes

Kelsey Bennett

Celeste Darling

Paola Garcia

Coco Gillett

Paige Guidry

Cami Hicks

Lauryn Hill

Mya Wilson

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