University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Saturday, September 17
Fort Worth, Texas
3:30 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
6-3
3
vs
1
Abilene Christian
3-9
1
2
3
4
F
Louisiana
22
25
25
25
3
Abilene Christian
25
12
13
21
1
Ragin’ Cajuns Finish Strong, Overwhelm Abilene Christian in Four Sets
9/17/2022 7:08:00 PM | Volleyball
Louisiana turned up the heat on offense to turn away the Wildcats
FORT WORTH, Texas – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball team unleashed a relentless offensive attack to rebound from defeat in the first set and claim a 3-1 (22-25, 25-12, 25-14, 25-21) win over Abilene Christian on Saturday, September 17 in TCU's Horned Frog Invitational at Schollmaier Arena.
The Ragin' Cajuns (6-3), who committed 10 attack errors in the opening set and hit .000, raised the intensity immediately with 17 kills on only 33 swings with a .455 hitting percentage in the second set to even the match. The squad followed with back-to-back sets with a .300-plus hitting percentage to complete the comeback.
Louisiana's storm back began with a 4-1 start to the second set, which grew to 12-4 following a Cami Hicks kill and pair of blocks. The Ragin' Cajuns produced 10 kills off their first 19 swings in the frame in stretching the lead to 17-8.
The path to overtaking the Wildcats was set in place after a 7-0 run in the third set opened a 14-6 lead for the Ragin' Cajuns. Celeste Darling led the charge with three kills during the decisive run.
After back-and-forth play resulted in neither team leading by more than a point early in the fourth set, Kelsey Bennett fired off a pair of kills that helped Louisiana create space with a 9-6 lead.
Bennett was in on a block with Hicks that increased the lead to 17-12 and prompted an ACU timeout. Then when the Wildcats (3-9) made a late push she would come up with a kill each time the lead was trimmed to three points, the last score upping the advantage to 21-17.
Louisiana held a commanding 44-28 edge in kills during the three-set winning spree to collect the victory which completed a 2-0 run through the Horned Frog Invitational. After the break-even hitting percentage to start the contest, the Ragin' Cajuns posted a .393 clip (44 K, 9 E, 89 TA) over the final three frames.
LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Bennett sparked the charge on offense with a match-high 19 kills. She also led the team with 14 digs to land her team-leading seventh double-double of the season (40th of her career).
Louisiana's right side hitter combination of Darling and Mya Wilson combined for 15 kills. Wilson had a hand in six blocks and Darling was involved in five blocks.
Behind a career-high tying nine blocks from Hicks, the Ragin' Cajuns out-blocked the Wildcats 14-7.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana kicks off Sun Belt Conference play with a two-match series on the road at Troy (6-6) from Thursday-Friday, Sept. 22-23.
The Ragin' Cajuns and Trojans are slated to meet at 6:00 p.m. (CDT) both nights from the Trojan Arena in Troy, Alabama. The matches are being broadcast on ESPN+.
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 Ragin' Cajuns (6-3), who committed 10 attack errors in the opening set and hit .000, raised the intensity immediately with 17 kills on only 33 swings with a .455 hitting percentage in the second set to even the match. The squad followed with back-to-back sets with a .300-plus hitting percentage to complete the comeback.
Louisiana's storm back began with a 4-1 start to the second set, which grew to 12-4 following a Cami Hicks kill and pair of blocks. The Ragin' Cajuns produced 10 kills off their first 19 swings in the frame in stretching the lead to 17-8.
The path to overtaking the Wildcats was set in place after a 7-0 run in the third set opened a 14-6 lead for the Ragin' Cajuns. Celeste Darling led the charge with three kills during the decisive run.
After back-and-forth play resulted in neither team leading by more than a point early in the fourth set, Kelsey Bennett fired off a pair of kills that helped Louisiana create space with a 9-6 lead.
Bennett was in on a block with Hicks that increased the lead to 17-12 and prompted an ACU timeout. Then when the Wildcats (3-9) made a late push she would come up with a kill each time the lead was trimmed to three points, the last score upping the advantage to 21-17.
Louisiana held a commanding 44-28 edge in kills during the three-set winning spree to collect the victory which completed a 2-0 run through the Horned Frog Invitational. After the break-even hitting percentage to start the contest, the Ragin' Cajuns posted a .393 clip (44 K, 9 E, 89 TA) over the final three frames.
LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Bennett sparked the charge on offense with a match-high 19 kills. She also led the team with 14 digs to land her team-leading seventh double-double of the season (40th of her career).
Louisiana's right side hitter combination of Darling and Mya Wilson combined for 15 kills. Wilson had a hand in six blocks and Darling was involved in five blocks.
Behind a career-high tying nine blocks from Hicks, the Ragin' Cajuns out-blocked the Wildcats 14-7.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana kicks off Sun Belt Conference play with a two-match series on the road at Troy (6-6) from Thursday-Friday, Sept. 22-23.
The Ragin' Cajuns and Trojans are slated to meet at 6:00 p.m. (CDT) both nights from the Trojan Arena in Troy, Alabama. The matches are being broadcast on ESPN+.
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
ACU
Kills
54
40
Errors
19
30
Attempts
127
131
Hitting %
.276
.076
Points
71.0
50.0
Assists
47
36
Aces
3
3
Blocks
14.0
7.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
19
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
6
Players Mentioned
OH
/ VolleyballRS
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballRS/MB
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