University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Friday, October 28
Monroe, La.
6:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
12-8, 6-5SBC
3
at
2
ULM
7-19, 0-11SBC
1
2
3
4
5
F
Louisiana
15
25
26
25
15
3
ULM
25
14
28
15
9
2
Louisiana Denies ULM in Five Sets to Start Sun Belt Series in Monroe
10/28/2022 10:35:00 PM | Volleyball
Ragin’ Cajuns take over after third set to pass the test from the persistent Warhawks
MONROE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball team extended its winning streak to three matches – and moved back above .500 in Sun Belt Conference play – after surviving a five-set test from ULM to take a 3-2 (15-25, 25-14, 26-28, 25-15, 15-9) decision over the Warhawks on Friday at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
The two teams traded one-sided wins over the first two sets, then the Warhawks (7-19, 0-11 Sun Belt) erased a six-point deficit late in Set 3 to win in extra points and put the Ragin' Cajuns (12-8, 6-5 Sun Belt) in comeback mode.
Lauryn Hill gave Louisiana separation in Set 4 when she punished an overpass for a 5-3 edge and the lead grew to 10-6 after Coco Gillett powered a swing through the ULM block. Later it was back-to-back kills from Celeste Darling that had the Ragin' Cajuns doubling up the Warhawks at 16-8.
The path to the winner-take-all frame was cemented when a three-point sequence consisting of an Emery Judkins kill, Hill ace and ULM attack error stretched the advantage to 20-11.
Louisiana jumped on ULM quickly in Set 5 as Darling and Gillett teamed up for a series of three straight kills that opened a 4-1 lead, then dominated down the stretch as a block from Kara Barnes made it 12-9 and started a string of critical stops at the net by the Ragin' Cajuns block that finished off the Warhawks.
The Ragin' Cajuns stretched their series win streak over the Warhawks to nine matches dating back to 2019. Louisiana now owns a 30-5 lead in SBC matches with its in-state foe.
With the win, Louisiana also secured a bye from the opening round (matches on Nov. 16) of the upcoming Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Foley, Alabama.
LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Louisiana's 66-54 edge in kills was charged by a match-high 16 kills from Barnes, 14 scores from Darling and 12 additional kills from Gillett. Barnes, who scored 19 kills on a .472 percentage in the ODU series, continued her torrid pace by getting her production off 34 swings and a .412 percentage.
Judkins had timely swings in the fourth set, landing five kills on just seven attempts in helping pace Louisiana's efforts in evening the match. She closed the night with nine kills on just 15 swings and a .533 percentage.
Barnes was the chief catalyst at the net with a hand in four blocks. Paige Guidry led a group of five Ragin' Cajuns with double-figure digs as she continued to shine at the libero position with a team-leading 18 digs.
Setters Reka Kotorman (32 assists, 10 digs) and Siena DeCambra (20 assists, 15 digs) each turned in a double-double.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns and Warhawks are set to tangle in a 2:00 p.m. matinee on Saturday, October 29 at Fant-Ewing Coliseum in Monroe to close out their two-match Sun Belt series.
Louisiana's attempt at a second consecutive SBC series sweep can be seen live on ESPN Plus.
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.
The two teams traded one-sided wins over the first two sets, then the Warhawks (7-19, 0-11 Sun Belt) erased a six-point deficit late in Set 3 to win in extra points and put the Ragin' Cajuns (12-8, 6-5 Sun Belt) in comeback mode.
Lauryn Hill gave Louisiana separation in Set 4 when she punished an overpass for a 5-3 edge and the lead grew to 10-6 after Coco Gillett powered a swing through the ULM block. Later it was back-to-back kills from Celeste Darling that had the Ragin' Cajuns doubling up the Warhawks at 16-8.
The path to the winner-take-all frame was cemented when a three-point sequence consisting of an Emery Judkins kill, Hill ace and ULM attack error stretched the advantage to 20-11.
Louisiana jumped on ULM quickly in Set 5 as Darling and Gillett teamed up for a series of three straight kills that opened a 4-1 lead, then dominated down the stretch as a block from Kara Barnes made it 12-9 and started a string of critical stops at the net by the Ragin' Cajuns block that finished off the Warhawks.
The Ragin' Cajuns stretched their series win streak over the Warhawks to nine matches dating back to 2019. Louisiana now owns a 30-5 lead in SBC matches with its in-state foe.
With the win, Louisiana also secured a bye from the opening round (matches on Nov. 16) of the upcoming Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Foley, Alabama.
LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Louisiana's 66-54 edge in kills was charged by a match-high 16 kills from Barnes, 14 scores from Darling and 12 additional kills from Gillett. Barnes, who scored 19 kills on a .472 percentage in the ODU series, continued her torrid pace by getting her production off 34 swings and a .412 percentage.
Judkins had timely swings in the fourth set, landing five kills on just seven attempts in helping pace Louisiana's efforts in evening the match. She closed the night with nine kills on just 15 swings and a .533 percentage.
Barnes was the chief catalyst at the net with a hand in four blocks. Paige Guidry led a group of five Ragin' Cajuns with double-figure digs as she continued to shine at the libero position with a team-leading 18 digs.
Setters Reka Kotorman (32 assists, 10 digs) and Siena DeCambra (20 assists, 15 digs) each turned in a double-double.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns and Warhawks are set to tangle in a 2:00 p.m. matinee on Saturday, October 29 at Fant-Ewing Coliseum in Monroe to close out their two-match Sun Belt series.
Louisiana's attempt at a second consecutive SBC series sweep can be seen live on ESPN Plus.
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 -
Team Stats
LA
ULM
Kills
66
54
Errors
22
20
Attempts
193
197
Hitting %
.228
.173
Points
78.0
62.0
Assists
61
52
Aces
6
3
Blocks
6.0
5.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
16
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
0
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