University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Thursday, November 17
Foley, Ala.
7:30 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
15-11
3
vs
2
App State
18-10
1
2
3
4
5
F
Louisiana
25
14
22
25
15
3
App State
19
25
25
13
12
2
Louisiana Packs a Punch in Comeback to Advance in Sun Belt Tournament
11/17/2022 11:52:00 PM | Volleyball
Ragin’ Cajuns overwhelm App State in erasing 2-1 match deficit and move on to the quarterfinals
FOLEY, Ala. – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball team outworked App State over the final two sets, producing key scoring runs and dominating the stats sheet, to storm back and claim a 3-2 (25-19, 14-25, 22-25, 25-13, 15-12) win in a second round matchup at the Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Tournament in at the Foley (Ala.) Events Center.
Louisiana (15-11) used a 10-0 run to blow open the fourth set and take a 15-4 lead, then a subsequent 8-1 run advanced the margin to 23-7 and made the fifth set a mere formality. The Ragin' Cajuns kept the pressure on by capturing the first five points of Set 5 and never looked back.
In putting away the Mountaineers (18-10) down the stretch, the Ragin' Cajuns hit .358 and had a commanding 26-11 advantage in kills while outhustling App State to the tune of a 29-17 edge in digs.
Kelsey Bennett, returning to full-time action for the first time since early October, ignited Louisiana's spark by hammering down four kills as the fourth-set sprint away from the Mountaineers began with the first six of the 10 unanswered points opening up an 11-4 lead.
App State halted the run briefly before the Ragin' Cajuns sealed the equalizer with four straight kills that involved Cami Hicks, Mya Wilson and Coco Gillett and extended the lead to 19-6. Gillett and Hicks kept the momentum surge rising combining for a pair of kills and ace that advanced the edge to 23-7.
A miscue on the first rally of Set 5 kept the Mountaineers reeling and Celeste Darling kept them at arm's length as she provided a pair of kills during Louisiana's 5-0 start and found the floor for another to up the lead to 8-2 as the team's switched sides.
After the Mountaineers closed within four at 9-5, it was Hicks scoring a kill and posting a block to advance the edge to 11-6. Later it was Gillett landing the timely score to end a string of back-to-back App State scores and return the lead to four points at 13-9.
When Darling's tip over the net fell between a group of defenders for match point the Ragin' Cajuns were able to avenge the Sun Belt series sweep dealt by the Mountaineers on the regular season's final weekend (Nov. 11-12). The win also kept Louisiana undefeated (5-0) in neutral site matches.
Louisiana moved to 3-0 all-time vs. App State in the Sun Belt Tournament and collected its first five-set win in the event since 1997.
LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
It was a triumphant return for Bennett who tallied a double-double of a team-best 16 kills and 10 digs and also contributed four blocks. Gillett also had a double-double, the seventh straight match she turned one in, as she totaled 15 kills and a match-high 22 digs.
Darling was the third Ragin' Cajun with double-figure kills as she provided 13 kills, hitting double digits for the fourth time in five outings in November.
Five other individuals scored multiple kills, including timely scores from Wilson and Kara Barnes, lead as Louisiana outpaced App State 63-44 in kills.
Hicks dominated at the net with eight blocks (1 BS, 7 BA) boosting Louisiana's efforts in a 13.0-8.0 advantage over App State.
Reka Kotorman (24 assists) and Siena DeCambra (22 assists) both handed out 20-plus assists in directing the offense to over 14 kills per set and .236 hitting percentage.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana takes aim at a semifinals berth in the Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Tournament on Friday, November 18 meeting SBC West No. 1 seed Texas State (22-6) at 7:30 p.m. in the quarterfinal round at the Foley Events Center.
The Ragin' Cajuns-Bobcats bout is set to air on ESPN Plus. Fans can track the match with live stats on CajunStats.com or through Twitter updates from @RaginCajunsVB.
The Sun Belt Volleyball Tournament features cashless ticketing. Tickets must be purchased online in advance through the Foley Sports Tourism Box Office or on-site. Tickets are sold on a daily basis and are $10 per day for adults and $5 per day for children ages 12 and under. Students of Sun Belt Conference institutions are admitted free with a valid student ID.
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.
Louisiana (15-11) used a 10-0 run to blow open the fourth set and take a 15-4 lead, then a subsequent 8-1 run advanced the margin to 23-7 and made the fifth set a mere formality. The Ragin' Cajuns kept the pressure on by capturing the first five points of Set 5 and never looked back.
In putting away the Mountaineers (18-10) down the stretch, the Ragin' Cajuns hit .358 and had a commanding 26-11 advantage in kills while outhustling App State to the tune of a 29-17 edge in digs.
Kelsey Bennett, returning to full-time action for the first time since early October, ignited Louisiana's spark by hammering down four kills as the fourth-set sprint away from the Mountaineers began with the first six of the 10 unanswered points opening up an 11-4 lead.
App State halted the run briefly before the Ragin' Cajuns sealed the equalizer with four straight kills that involved Cami Hicks, Mya Wilson and Coco Gillett and extended the lead to 19-6. Gillett and Hicks kept the momentum surge rising combining for a pair of kills and ace that advanced the edge to 23-7.
A miscue on the first rally of Set 5 kept the Mountaineers reeling and Celeste Darling kept them at arm's length as she provided a pair of kills during Louisiana's 5-0 start and found the floor for another to up the lead to 8-2 as the team's switched sides.
After the Mountaineers closed within four at 9-5, it was Hicks scoring a kill and posting a block to advance the edge to 11-6. Later it was Gillett landing the timely score to end a string of back-to-back App State scores and return the lead to four points at 13-9.
When Darling's tip over the net fell between a group of defenders for match point the Ragin' Cajuns were able to avenge the Sun Belt series sweep dealt by the Mountaineers on the regular season's final weekend (Nov. 11-12). The win also kept Louisiana undefeated (5-0) in neutral site matches.
Louisiana moved to 3-0 all-time vs. App State in the Sun Belt Tournament and collected its first five-set win in the event since 1997.
LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
It was a triumphant return for Bennett who tallied a double-double of a team-best 16 kills and 10 digs and also contributed four blocks. Gillett also had a double-double, the seventh straight match she turned one in, as she totaled 15 kills and a match-high 22 digs.
Darling was the third Ragin' Cajun with double-figure kills as she provided 13 kills, hitting double digits for the fourth time in five outings in November.
Five other individuals scored multiple kills, including timely scores from Wilson and Kara Barnes, lead as Louisiana outpaced App State 63-44 in kills.
Hicks dominated at the net with eight blocks (1 BS, 7 BA) boosting Louisiana's efforts in a 13.0-8.0 advantage over App State.
Reka Kotorman (24 assists) and Siena DeCambra (22 assists) both handed out 20-plus assists in directing the offense to over 14 kills per set and .236 hitting percentage.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana takes aim at a semifinals berth in the Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Tournament on Friday, November 18 meeting SBC West No. 1 seed Texas State (22-6) at 7:30 p.m. in the quarterfinal round at the Foley Events Center.
The Ragin' Cajuns-Bobcats bout is set to air on ESPN Plus. Fans can track the match with live stats on CajunStats.com or through Twitter updates from @RaginCajunsVB.
The Sun Belt Volleyball Tournament features cashless ticketing. Tickets must be purchased online in advance through the Foley Sports Tourism Box Office or on-site. Tickets are sold on a daily basis and are $10 per day for adults and $5 per day for children ages 12 and under. Students of Sun Belt Conference institutions are admitted free with a valid student ID.
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
APP
Kills
63
44
Errors
24
18
Attempts
165
155
Hitting %
.236
.168
Points
79.0
64.0
Assists
58
42
Aces
3
12
Blocks
13.0
8.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
16
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
15
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Players Mentioned
MB
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballRS
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballOH/L
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballRS/MB
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