University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Saturday, October 28
Lafayette
1:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
15-11, 6-6SBC
3
vs
1
ULM
4-22, 0-12SBC
1
2
3
4
F
ULM
20
25
15
20
1
Louisiana
25
22
25
25
3
Louisiana Chases Away ULM to Collect Series Sweep
10/28/2023 4:30:00 PM | Volleyball
Steady flow of offense allowed Ragin’ Cajuns to wear down the Warhawks
LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball team used a steady and consistent offensive approach to shake off ULM in a 3-1 (25-20, 22-25, 25-15, 25-20) win on Saturday, October 28 at E.K. Long Gym.
The Ragin' Cajuns (15-11, 6-6 Sun Belt) scored at least 12 kills and hit above .250 in all four sets to fend off the Warhawks (4-22, 0-12 Sun Belt) and complete the two-match series sweep.
The steady and constant flow of offense utilized by Louisiana paid off in the end after ULM evened the match. With the result hanging in the balance, UL generated 30 kills on .286 hitting (30 K, 8 E, 77 TA) over the final two sets compared to the 21 kills on .156 hitting (21 K, 11 E, 64 TA) from the Warhawks.
The game changers for the Cajuns were Cami Hicks who produced nine kills, four blocks and three aces and Mya Wilson who was inserted into the starting lineup in Set 2 and scored nine kills off of 12 error-free swings. Wilson changed the dynamic starting in Set 3, closing out the match with seven of the kills and three blocks.
With a .308 match hitting percentage Louisiana was able to outpace the Warhawks in kills 59-51. UL held the defensive edge in digs (77-63) and blocks (7.0-6.0) and capitalized on a better performance from the service line committing only six miscues as compared to the 15 by ULM.
With the win the Ragin' Cajuns extended their win streak over ULM to 12 matches, a streak that dates back to 2018, and upped the all-time series lead to 61-21 (includes a 33-5 edge in the Sun Belt era).
UL also remained two games ahead of Southern Miss in the race for the No. 4 seed out of the SBC West Division in the upcoming conference tournament in Foley, Alabama. Next weekend's series in Hattiesburg will determine the order of seeding for the Cajuns and Golden Eagles.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The quick start formula that worked on Friday got the Cajuns going once again, back-to-back kills from Shyia Richardson started Set 1 and gave UL a lead it wouldn't relinquish. The Warhawks forged a 9-all tie, but Lauryn Hill answered with a quick tiebreaking swing.
The second set was a defensive tug-of-war similar to Friday, the two teams working through 17 ties and nine lead changes before the Warhawks claimed victory. Kills from Logan Jeffus and Ariana Brown lifted ULM into a 15-14 lead prior to the media timeout. It became a side out fest until a kill from Jeffus snapped an 18-all tie and sparked a 3-0 run that gave ULM separation.
The block of Wilson early in Set 3 was the momentum change the Cajuns needed as she was in on three blocks while the squad built a 10-4 advantage. Later it was Wilson firing off two key kills as UL rattled off a 4-1 run that stretched the lead to 21-14.
Celeste Darling drove the Cajuns offense during the match-clinching triumph, landing seven kills off of 12 error-free swings. Darling had two kills early in Set 4 that erased a 2-0 ULM lead, preventing the visitors from recapturing any momentum, and then starting at 14-10 she would score four kills during a stretch where the Cajuns maintained a four-point edge.
LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Richardson matched her total from the series opener, netting 16 kills which pushed her over the 300-mark in a season for the first time in her collegiate career. Now at 313 kills, Richardson is the first Cajun to hit 300 since Kelsey Bennett's 374 in 2021.
Darling's flurry finish upped her match total to 12 kills while Hicks and Wilson combined to fire off 18 kills on a combined 32 attack attempts.
Hicks' four blocks led a group of five Cajuns who had a hand in multiple blocks. Wilson and Richardson each had three blocks followed by Darling and Abby Cunningham with a pair apiece.
Setter Siena DeCambra had an impressive double-double of 48 assists and 15 digs. It's the fifth consecutive weekend that she's turned in at least one double-double.
For the sixth time in the past eight matches Mio Yamamoto eclipsed 20 digs, her 23 scoops leading all players. Kennedy Gustafson was the third Cajun with double-figure digs as she rounded up 13.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana travels to Hattiesburg, Mississippi for a two-match series against Southern Miss where the two teams will battle for seeding position within the Sun Belt West for the upcoming conference tournament.
First serve in the Thursday-Friday, November 2-3 series at the Southern Miss Wellness Center is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. both nights.
It's the first SBC series in Hattiesburg between the two programs. The Cajuns and Golden Eagles split the series during initial conference meeting held last season at E.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.
The Ragin' Cajuns (15-11, 6-6 Sun Belt) scored at least 12 kills and hit above .250 in all four sets to fend off the Warhawks (4-22, 0-12 Sun Belt) and complete the two-match series sweep.
The steady and constant flow of offense utilized by Louisiana paid off in the end after ULM evened the match. With the result hanging in the balance, UL generated 30 kills on .286 hitting (30 K, 8 E, 77 TA) over the final two sets compared to the 21 kills on .156 hitting (21 K, 11 E, 64 TA) from the Warhawks.
The game changers for the Cajuns were Cami Hicks who produced nine kills, four blocks and three aces and Mya Wilson who was inserted into the starting lineup in Set 2 and scored nine kills off of 12 error-free swings. Wilson changed the dynamic starting in Set 3, closing out the match with seven of the kills and three blocks.
With a .308 match hitting percentage Louisiana was able to outpace the Warhawks in kills 59-51. UL held the defensive edge in digs (77-63) and blocks (7.0-6.0) and capitalized on a better performance from the service line committing only six miscues as compared to the 15 by ULM.
With the win the Ragin' Cajuns extended their win streak over ULM to 12 matches, a streak that dates back to 2018, and upped the all-time series lead to 61-21 (includes a 33-5 edge in the Sun Belt era).
UL also remained two games ahead of Southern Miss in the race for the No. 4 seed out of the SBC West Division in the upcoming conference tournament in Foley, Alabama. Next weekend's series in Hattiesburg will determine the order of seeding for the Cajuns and Golden Eagles.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The quick start formula that worked on Friday got the Cajuns going once again, back-to-back kills from Shyia Richardson started Set 1 and gave UL a lead it wouldn't relinquish. The Warhawks forged a 9-all tie, but Lauryn Hill answered with a quick tiebreaking swing.
The second set was a defensive tug-of-war similar to Friday, the two teams working through 17 ties and nine lead changes before the Warhawks claimed victory. Kills from Logan Jeffus and Ariana Brown lifted ULM into a 15-14 lead prior to the media timeout. It became a side out fest until a kill from Jeffus snapped an 18-all tie and sparked a 3-0 run that gave ULM separation.
The block of Wilson early in Set 3 was the momentum change the Cajuns needed as she was in on three blocks while the squad built a 10-4 advantage. Later it was Wilson firing off two key kills as UL rattled off a 4-1 run that stretched the lead to 21-14.
Celeste Darling drove the Cajuns offense during the match-clinching triumph, landing seven kills off of 12 error-free swings. Darling had two kills early in Set 4 that erased a 2-0 ULM lead, preventing the visitors from recapturing any momentum, and then starting at 14-10 she would score four kills during a stretch where the Cajuns maintained a four-point edge.
LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Richardson matched her total from the series opener, netting 16 kills which pushed her over the 300-mark in a season for the first time in her collegiate career. Now at 313 kills, Richardson is the first Cajun to hit 300 since Kelsey Bennett's 374 in 2021.
Darling's flurry finish upped her match total to 12 kills while Hicks and Wilson combined to fire off 18 kills on a combined 32 attack attempts.
Hicks' four blocks led a group of five Cajuns who had a hand in multiple blocks. Wilson and Richardson each had three blocks followed by Darling and Abby Cunningham with a pair apiece.
Setter Siena DeCambra had an impressive double-double of 48 assists and 15 digs. It's the fifth consecutive weekend that she's turned in at least one double-double.
For the sixth time in the past eight matches Mio Yamamoto eclipsed 20 digs, her 23 scoops leading all players. Kennedy Gustafson was the third Cajun with double-figure digs as she rounded up 13.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana travels to Hattiesburg, Mississippi for a two-match series against Southern Miss where the two teams will battle for seeding position within the Sun Belt West for the upcoming conference tournament.
First serve in the Thursday-Friday, November 2-3 series at the Southern Miss Wellness Center is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. both nights.
It's the first SBC series in Hattiesburg between the two programs. The Cajuns and Golden Eagles split the series during initial conference meeting held last season at E.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 -
Team Stats
ULM
UL
Kills
51
59
Errors
17
14
Attempts
154
146
Hitting %
.221
.308
Points
61.0
70.0
Assists
48
58
Aces
4
4
Blocks
6.0
7.0
Game Leaders
Kills
16
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
9
Aces
3
Blocks
4
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
OH
/ VolleyballOPP
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
DS
/ VolleyballMB
/ Volleyball
OH
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballOPP
/ Volleyball
L
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