University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Friday, August 26
East Lansing, Mich.
11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
vs
Eastern Michigan
Louisiana Volleyball Launches 2022 Season in Great Lakes Region
8/25/2022 2:10:00 PM | Volleyball
Ragin’ Cajuns travel to Michigan State for season-opening tournament in East Lansing
EAST LANSING, Mich. – The second season of the Kristi Gray era for Louisiana Volleyball officially begins Friday-Saturday, August 26-27 when the Ragin' Cajuns open regular season play in the 2022 season at the Auto Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational hosted by Michigan State at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich.
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The Ragin' Cajuns (15-11, 9-7 Sun Belt in 2021) open the weekend and the season with a pair of matches on Friday (Aug. 26), facing Eastern Michigan at 11:00 a.m. (CDT) and then the host-Spartans at 6:00 p.m. (CDT). The team concludes play in the tournament on Saturday (Aug. 27) with a 9:00 a.m. (CDT) matchup against Fairfield.
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Each match is being broadcast on B1G+, accessible via BigTenPlus.com or the B1G+ app. Subscription fees do apply.
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HOW TO FOLLOW
vs. Eastern Michigan | Friday, August 26, 11:00 a.m. (CDT)
B1G+ | Live Stats
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at Michigan State | Friday, August 26, 6:00 p.m. (CDT)
B1G+ | Live Stats
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vs. Fairfield | Saturday, August 27, 9:00 a.m. (CDT)
B1G+ | Live Stats
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SERIES HISTORY
- Eastern Michigan: Louisiana leads, 2-1 | Last match: W, 3-0 on 9/6/2019 at E.K. Long Gym
Streak: Won 2
- Michigan State: Tied, 1-1 | Last match: W, 3-2 on 9/13/1991 in Baton Rouge, La.
Streak: Won 1
- Fairfield: First Meeting
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FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
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.
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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.
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UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana's home opener occurs Labor Day Weekend when the squad hosts the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic from Friday-Saturday, September 2-3 in E. K. Long Gym.
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The Ragin' Cajuns welcome North Dakota State, UTRGV and UTSA for the return of their annual home tournament. Play begins at 9:00 a.m. on Friday (Sept. 2) as Louisiana meets NDSU in its 2022 home opener. For the complete tournament schedule visit the tournament central page.
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Louisiana is also celebrating Alumni Weekend during the event, giving the program's alumni an opportunity to view in person the stunning interior renovations which have transformed E. K. Long Gym into one of the premier volleyball-specific venues in the country.
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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.
Â
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.
Â
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The Ragin' Cajuns (15-11, 9-7 Sun Belt in 2021) open the weekend and the season with a pair of matches on Friday (Aug. 26), facing Eastern Michigan at 11:00 a.m. (CDT) and then the host-Spartans at 6:00 p.m. (CDT). The team concludes play in the tournament on Saturday (Aug. 27) with a 9:00 a.m. (CDT) matchup against Fairfield.
Â
Each match is being broadcast on B1G+, accessible via BigTenPlus.com or the B1G+ app. Subscription fees do apply.
Â
HOW TO FOLLOW
vs. Eastern Michigan | Friday, August 26, 11:00 a.m. (CDT)
B1G+ | Live Stats
Â
at Michigan State | Friday, August 26, 6:00 p.m. (CDT)
B1G+ | Live Stats
Â
vs. Fairfield | Saturday, August 27, 9:00 a.m. (CDT)
B1G+ | Live Stats
Â
SERIES HISTORY
- Eastern Michigan: Louisiana leads, 2-1 | Last match: W, 3-0 on 9/6/2019 at E.K. Long Gym
Streak: Won 2
- Michigan State: Tied, 1-1 | Last match: W, 3-2 on 9/13/1991 in Baton Rouge, La.
Streak: Won 1
- Fairfield: First Meeting
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FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
- It's Geaux Time: Louisiana begins Year No. 2 of the Kristi Gray era, and the 47th season overall in program history, when the Ragin' Cajuns travel to East Lansing, Mich., for the Auto Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational hosted by Michigan State at the Breslin Center
- Familiar Faces: Louisiana returns all six position starters, and libero, from its lineup that concluded play in the 2021 season.
- One-Two Punch: 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.
- Milestone Watch: 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.Â
- Homecoming: Louisiana's trip to East Lansing marks a return home for libero/defensive specialist Jordan Valley who is from nearby Haslett, Mich., – a mere five miles away. Valley prepped at Haslett (Mich.) High School and began her collegiate career at South Florida before transferring to Louisiana in the 2021 season.
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.
Â
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.
Â
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana's home opener occurs Labor Day Weekend when the squad hosts the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic from Friday-Saturday, September 2-3 in E. K. Long Gym.
Â
The Ragin' Cajuns welcome North Dakota State, UTRGV and UTSA for the return of their annual home tournament. Play begins at 9:00 a.m. on Friday (Sept. 2) as Louisiana meets NDSU in its 2022 home opener. For the complete tournament schedule visit the tournament central page.
Â
Louisiana is also celebrating Alumni Weekend during the event, giving the program's alumni an opportunity to view in person the stunning interior renovations which have transformed E. K. Long Gym into one of the premier volleyball-specific venues in the country.
Â
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.
Â
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.
Â
- www.RaginCajuns.com -
Players Mentioned
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