Louisiana Visits Mississippi State for Volleyball Exhibition Match

STARKVILLE, Miss. – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball team faces outside competition for the first time since preseason practice began when it meets Mississippi State in an exhibition match on Saturday, August 20 in Starkville, Miss. at the Newell-Grissom Building.

First serve is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. The contest will utilize the normal best-of-five format.

Saturday's exhibition is the final tune-up for the Ragin' Cajuns before officially beginning the 2022 season on Friday, August 26 at the Auto Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational hosted by Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich.

Louisiana is entering Year No. 2 with head coach Kristi Gray in 2022. Last season the Ragin' Cajuns finished 15-11 (9-7 Sun Belt), set the program's rally scoring era hitting percentage record (.230), and boosted by a clean sweep of the first round of SBC West Division play – including the first-ever win over Texas State in San Marcos – was in contention for the division title entering the month of November.

SET POINTS

Louisiana returns all six position starters, and libero, from its lineup that concluded play in the 2021 season.
Louisiana operated one of the Sun Belt's most efficient and exciting offenses by utilizing head coach Kristi Gray's up-tempo system. The team led the conference in hitting percentage through Oct. 23, remaining in the Top 5 through season's end and finishing at .230 which is the program's rally era record.
The Ragin' Cajuns return many key pieces to their productive offense including the leading point producers in outside hitters Kelsey Bennett (427.0 points) and Coco Gillett (329.0 points). The duo combined to average nearly 4.0 kills per set last season.
Back on the front line is the one-two middle blocker punch of Cami Hicks and Kara Barnes who posted 89 and 88 blocks, respectively, and who both own 140-plus career blocks.
Setters Siena DeCambra and Reka Kotorman are in place to once again guide the offense. A year ago, the pair steered the 6-2 attack that was primarily employed by the Ragin' Cajuns.
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.
In the Sun Belt Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll, the Ragin' Cajuns were picked fourth, and received a first-place vote, in the SBC West Division. Only two points separated Louisiana and third-place Troy.
Entering her fifth and final campaign with Louisiana (COVID-extended career), senior Kelsey Bennett is on the verge of 1,000 career kills and digs. She will start 2022 with career totals of 942 kills and 957 digs.

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.

HOMECOMING
Louisiana's trip to Starkville marks a return home for assistant coach Jazmyne Johnson who completed her collegiate playing career at Mississippi State from 2015-16 and earned her bachelor's degree from MSU in December 2016.

LOOKING AHEAD
The second season of the Kristi Gray era officially begins Friday-Saturday, August 26-27 when Louisiana opens regular season play at the Auto Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational hosted by Michigan State at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich.

The Ragin' Cajuns season opener is set for Friday, August 26 at 11:00 a.m. (CDT) vs. Eastern Michigan.

Louisiana's home opener occurs Labor Day Weekend when the squad hosts the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic from September 2-3 in Earl K. Long Gym.

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 Visits Mississippi State for Volleyball Exhibition Match

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Kara Barnes

Kelsey Bennett

Celeste Darling

Siena DeCambra

Paola Garcia

Coco Gillett

Paige Guidry

Cami Hicks

Lauryn Hill

Reka Kotorman

Mya Wilson

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University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics

Louisiana Visits Mississippi State for Volleyball Exhibition Match

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Kara Barnes

Kelsey Bennett

Celeste Darling

Siena DeCambra

Paola Garcia

Coco Gillett

Paige Guidry

Cami Hicks

Lauryn Hill

Reka Kotorman

Mya Wilson

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