University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Thursday, November 2
Hattiesburg, Miss.
6:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
15-12, 6-7SBC
1
at
3
Southern Miss
11-13, 6-7SBC
1
2
3
4
F
Louisiana
29
25
21
21
1
Southern Miss
31
14
25
25
3
Golden Eagles Slip Past Cajuns in Back-and-Forth Battle
11/2/2023 10:35:00 PM | Volleyball
Southern Miss found key momentum swings to capture series opener from Louisiana
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball team stockpiled stats but it was Southern Miss which found the timely rallies to come away with a 3-1 (31-29, 14-25, 25-21, 25-21) win on Thursday, November 2 at the USM Wellness Center in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
The victory by the Golden Eagles (11-13, 6-7 Sun Belt) sets up a winner-take-all scenario for the No. 4 seed out of the SBC West Division when the rematch with the Ragin' Cajuns (15-12, 6-7 Sun Belt) takes place on Friday, November 3.
Louisiana held a 64-54 edge in kills, a 61-52 advantage in assists and out-dug USM by a 90-75 count. The Golden Eagles countered with a critical 10.0-6.5 lead in blocks, posting six blocks after the Cajuns leveled the match.
Southern Miss was able to swing the match in its favor by overcoming a seven-point deficit in the opening set, eventually winning in extra points, and by erasing a deficit midway through Set 3.
The Ragin' Cajuns offense dominated the first half of the match with a 39-27 advantage in kills, however the Golden Eagles flipped the script the back half slowing UL down and overtaking the visitors 27-25 in kills.
The loss overshadowed season-best performances from Louisiana's Abby Cunningham who scored 16 kills and Mio Yamamoto who reached the 30-dig mark for the first time as a Ragin' Cajun.
The Cajuns had their SBC-best three-match win streak snapped while the Golden Eagles increased their winning streak to four matches.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Behind the hot start from Mya Wilson, who finished with eight kills in Set 1, the Cajuns opened a 16-9 lead in Set 1 behind four of those scores. Wilson and Shyia Richardson went back-to-back for kills and a 20-15 lead, only to see USM roll off a 7-2 run that evened the score and eventually led to extra points.
Richardson (6) and Cunningham (4) combined for 10 kills and the Cajuns hit .417 in running away with Set 2. A pair of scoring runs of six or more points cemented the win that evened the match, the latter a seven-point spurt capped off by kills from Wilson, Cunningham and Wilson again that made it 20-9.
UL and USM traded scoring jabs early in Set 3, the Cajuns getting three kills from Cunningham during a 5-0 spurt that opened an 11-9 lead. A combo block from Wilson and Cami Hicks upped the lead back to three points, at 16-13, before the Golden Eagles posted a 4-0 run to flip the momentum.
Back-to-back Richardson kills gave UL a temporary boost and an 18-17 lead, but three untimely miscues followed in another four-point USM run that gave the hosts a 21-18 advantage.
Unlike the previous three sets the Cajuns weren't able to answer back early USM runs. A block, kill and an ace lifted the Golden Eagles into a 7-6 lead in Set 4. A pair of Cunningham kills forged a tie through 8-all, but an untimely service error sparked a 4-0 USM run and the Cajuns would trail the rest of the match.
LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Richardson's team-high 18 kills marked her season-best fifth straight match with double-digit kills. It was the third straight match she registered 15-plus kills.
Cunningham scored four, five and six kills from the second through sets, respectively, as she bested her previous season-best of 13 kills at Texas State.
Wilson joined Cunningham in setting a season-high in kills with her 13 scores. The senior opposite hitter was the Cajuns primary source in the first two frames, landing 12 kills off of only 23 swings.
Hicks and Kara Barnes were the leaders at the net with four and three blocks, respectively.
Setter Siena DeCambra turned in another impressive double-double of 46 assists and 13 digs, marking the sixth consecutive SBC series she's had at least one double-double.
The 31 digs from Yamamoto marked the seventh time in the past nine matches she's scooped 20-plus. Cunningham (14) and Richardson (11) also hit double figures in digs.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana and Southern Miss conclude a two-match Sun Belt series at the USM Wellness Center on Friday, November 3, with a match that will determine which squad is the No. 4 and No. 5 in the SBC Tournament.
First serve is scheduled for 6:00 p.m., with live video coverage available on ESPN+ and live stats accessible at CajunStats.com.
Either team that claims the victory on Friday night finishes as the SBC West No. 4 seed. Louisiana has another opportunity to reach a new benchmark for wins in the Kristi Gray era.
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 victory by the Golden Eagles (11-13, 6-7 Sun Belt) sets up a winner-take-all scenario for the No. 4 seed out of the SBC West Division when the rematch with the Ragin' Cajuns (15-12, 6-7 Sun Belt) takes place on Friday, November 3.
Louisiana held a 64-54 edge in kills, a 61-52 advantage in assists and out-dug USM by a 90-75 count. The Golden Eagles countered with a critical 10.0-6.5 lead in blocks, posting six blocks after the Cajuns leveled the match.
Southern Miss was able to swing the match in its favor by overcoming a seven-point deficit in the opening set, eventually winning in extra points, and by erasing a deficit midway through Set 3.
The Ragin' Cajuns offense dominated the first half of the match with a 39-27 advantage in kills, however the Golden Eagles flipped the script the back half slowing UL down and overtaking the visitors 27-25 in kills.
The loss overshadowed season-best performances from Louisiana's Abby Cunningham who scored 16 kills and Mio Yamamoto who reached the 30-dig mark for the first time as a Ragin' Cajun.
The Cajuns had their SBC-best three-match win streak snapped while the Golden Eagles increased their winning streak to four matches.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Behind the hot start from Mya Wilson, who finished with eight kills in Set 1, the Cajuns opened a 16-9 lead in Set 1 behind four of those scores. Wilson and Shyia Richardson went back-to-back for kills and a 20-15 lead, only to see USM roll off a 7-2 run that evened the score and eventually led to extra points.
Richardson (6) and Cunningham (4) combined for 10 kills and the Cajuns hit .417 in running away with Set 2. A pair of scoring runs of six or more points cemented the win that evened the match, the latter a seven-point spurt capped off by kills from Wilson, Cunningham and Wilson again that made it 20-9.
UL and USM traded scoring jabs early in Set 3, the Cajuns getting three kills from Cunningham during a 5-0 spurt that opened an 11-9 lead. A combo block from Wilson and Cami Hicks upped the lead back to three points, at 16-13, before the Golden Eagles posted a 4-0 run to flip the momentum.
Back-to-back Richardson kills gave UL a temporary boost and an 18-17 lead, but three untimely miscues followed in another four-point USM run that gave the hosts a 21-18 advantage.
Unlike the previous three sets the Cajuns weren't able to answer back early USM runs. A block, kill and an ace lifted the Golden Eagles into a 7-6 lead in Set 4. A pair of Cunningham kills forged a tie through 8-all, but an untimely service error sparked a 4-0 USM run and the Cajuns would trail the rest of the match.
LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Richardson's team-high 18 kills marked her season-best fifth straight match with double-digit kills. It was the third straight match she registered 15-plus kills.
Cunningham scored four, five and six kills from the second through sets, respectively, as she bested her previous season-best of 13 kills at Texas State.
Wilson joined Cunningham in setting a season-high in kills with her 13 scores. The senior opposite hitter was the Cajuns primary source in the first two frames, landing 12 kills off of only 23 swings.
Hicks and Kara Barnes were the leaders at the net with four and three blocks, respectively.
Setter Siena DeCambra turned in another impressive double-double of 46 assists and 13 digs, marking the sixth consecutive SBC series she's had at least one double-double.
The 31 digs from Yamamoto marked the seventh time in the past nine matches she's scooped 20-plus. Cunningham (14) and Richardson (11) also hit double figures in digs.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana and Southern Miss conclude a two-match Sun Belt series at the USM Wellness Center on Friday, November 3, with a match that will determine which squad is the No. 4 and No. 5 in the SBC Tournament.
First serve is scheduled for 6:00 p.m., with live video coverage available on ESPN+ and live stats accessible at CajunStats.com.
Either team that claims the victory on Friday night finishes as the SBC West No. 4 seed. Louisiana has another opportunity to reach a new benchmark for wins in the Kristi Gray era.
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
UL
USM
Kills
64
54
Errors
25
18
Attempts
175
174
Hitting %
.223
.207
Points
74.5
71.0
Assists
61
52
Aces
4
7
Blocks
6.5
10.0
Game Leaders
Kills
18
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
16
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
MB
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballOPP
/ Volleyball
L
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