University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Friday, November 4
Lafayette
6:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
14-9, 8-6SBC
2
vs
3
Southern Miss
17-9, 9-5SBC
1
2
3
4
5
F
Southern Miss
25
17
21
25
15
3
Louisiana
20
25
25
17
9
2
Golden Eagles Rise Up Late, Claim Series Finale from Ragin’ Cajuns
11/4/2022 10:09:00 PM | Volleyball
USM plays spoiler in Louisiana’s home finale, regains its advantage in SBC West standings
LAFAYETTE – With a surge at the finish line Southern Miss was able to rally past the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball team and collect a 3-2 (25-20, 17-25, 21-25, 25-17, 15-9) win on Friday, November 4 at Earl K. Long Gym.
The visiting Golden Eagles (17-9, 9-5 Sun Belt) used a decisive advantage on offense in the final two sets to overcome the Ragin' Cajuns (14-9, 8-6 Sun Belt) in the battle to break the tie for fourth place in the Sun Belt West Division. USM nearly doubled up Louisiana in the final two frames, holding a commanding 25-13 edge in kills down the stretch.
The loss snapped the Ragin' Cajuns season-high, five-match winning streak and spoiled the team's Senior Night. Kelsey Bennett stepped onto the court for the final time at E.K. Long when she subbed in on the second rally of the opening set.
After dropping the first set, Louisiana stormed back with 18 kills on a .310 hitting percentage to even the match. Back-to-back kills from Emery Judkins gave UL the upper hand at 12-9, then out of the media timeout Celeste Darling and Kara Barnes took part in a block and scored kills of their own to stretch the lead to 19-13.
The third set went back-and-forth with neither team leading by more than a point until a Coco Gillett kill put Louisiana up 15-13 at the media timeout. Leading 19-18, the Ragin' Cajuns made their move to claim the match lead by scoring three straight points with the last tally being a Judkins kill to capitalize off a USM miscue and make it 22-18.
The match lead slipped away from Louisiana as the Golden Eagles opened Set 4 with a 6-2 run and never trailed, then the pattern repeated itself in Set 5 as USM began with a 7-1 start that the Ragin' Cajuns weren't able to overcome.
Friday's result allowed Southern Miss to avenge a four-set defeat to Louisiana on Thursday night and it evened the Sun Belt series between the two teams. By claiming two sets the Ragin' Cajuns laid claim to the head-to-head tiebreaker between the two teams should it come into play (finished series with a 5-4 advantage in set wons).
LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Four Ragin' Cajuns produced double figures in kills led by Cami Hicks and Darling who scored 11 each and Judkins and Gillett who followed with 10 each.
Darling, Judkins and Gillett reached double figures for the second straight night, each one accumulating 20-plus kills in the series.
Gillett added 13 digs to her stat line to notch a double-double for the fourth straight match.
Barnes totaled at least five blocks for the second straight night, her team-leading seven blocks being her highest total since opening weekend. Five other Ragin' Cajuns joined her in posting multiple blocks including Gillett who was involved in three.
Libero Paige Guidry rounded up the most digs with her 16 tallies marking the fourth straight match she's had at least 15 digs.
Siena DeCambra led Louisiana's setter duo with 27 helpers. She collected 12 digs to give her a double-double for the fourth time in the past six matches.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana concludes regular season play on the road in Boone, North Carolina meeting App State at the Holmes Convocation Center for a two-match Sun Belt series from Friday-Saturday, November 11-12.
The series in Boone is set to air live on ESPN+ both days with first serve on Friday (Nov. 11) set for 5:00 p.m. (CST) and Saturday's match beginning at 12:00 p.m. (CST).
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 visiting Golden Eagles (17-9, 9-5 Sun Belt) used a decisive advantage on offense in the final two sets to overcome the Ragin' Cajuns (14-9, 8-6 Sun Belt) in the battle to break the tie for fourth place in the Sun Belt West Division. USM nearly doubled up Louisiana in the final two frames, holding a commanding 25-13 edge in kills down the stretch.
The loss snapped the Ragin' Cajuns season-high, five-match winning streak and spoiled the team's Senior Night. Kelsey Bennett stepped onto the court for the final time at E.K. Long when she subbed in on the second rally of the opening set.
After dropping the first set, Louisiana stormed back with 18 kills on a .310 hitting percentage to even the match. Back-to-back kills from Emery Judkins gave UL the upper hand at 12-9, then out of the media timeout Celeste Darling and Kara Barnes took part in a block and scored kills of their own to stretch the lead to 19-13.
The third set went back-and-forth with neither team leading by more than a point until a Coco Gillett kill put Louisiana up 15-13 at the media timeout. Leading 19-18, the Ragin' Cajuns made their move to claim the match lead by scoring three straight points with the last tally being a Judkins kill to capitalize off a USM miscue and make it 22-18.
The match lead slipped away from Louisiana as the Golden Eagles opened Set 4 with a 6-2 run and never trailed, then the pattern repeated itself in Set 5 as USM began with a 7-1 start that the Ragin' Cajuns weren't able to overcome.
Friday's result allowed Southern Miss to avenge a four-set defeat to Louisiana on Thursday night and it evened the Sun Belt series between the two teams. By claiming two sets the Ragin' Cajuns laid claim to the head-to-head tiebreaker between the two teams should it come into play (finished series with a 5-4 advantage in set wons).
LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Four Ragin' Cajuns produced double figures in kills led by Cami Hicks and Darling who scored 11 each and Judkins and Gillett who followed with 10 each.
Darling, Judkins and Gillett reached double figures for the second straight night, each one accumulating 20-plus kills in the series.
Gillett added 13 digs to her stat line to notch a double-double for the fourth straight match.
Barnes totaled at least five blocks for the second straight night, her team-leading seven blocks being her highest total since opening weekend. Five other Ragin' Cajuns joined her in posting multiple blocks including Gillett who was involved in three.
Libero Paige Guidry rounded up the most digs with her 16 tallies marking the fourth straight match she's had at least 15 digs.
Siena DeCambra led Louisiana's setter duo with 27 helpers. She collected 12 digs to give her a double-double for the fourth time in the past six matches.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana concludes regular season play on the road in Boone, North Carolina meeting App State at the Holmes Convocation Center for a two-match Sun Belt series from Friday-Saturday, November 11-12.
The series in Boone is set to air live on ESPN+ both days with first serve on Friday (Nov. 11) set for 5:00 p.m. (CST) and Saturday's match beginning at 12:00 p.m. (CST).
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
USM
LA
Kills
64
57
Errors
22
24
Attempts
160
154
Hitting %
.263
.214
Points
81.0
71.0
Assists
59
55
Aces
8
4
Blocks
9.0
10.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
3
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