University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Friday, November 3
Hattiesburg, Miss.
6:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
16-12, 7-7SBC
3
at
0
Southern Miss
11-14, 6-8SBC
1
2
3
F
Louisiana
25
25
25
3
Southern Miss
22
20
23
0
Louisiana Bounces Back to Sweep USM
11/3/2023 8:16:00 PM | Volleyball
The Cajuns clinched the No. 4 seed in the SBC West Division with the win
HATTIESBURG, Mississippi - Shyia Richardson recorded her ninth double-double of the season as the Louisiana volleyball team cruised to a three-set sweep over Southern Miss on Friday, November 3 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
Richardson, a junior, led all players with 12 kills along with a team-high 12 digs in the 25-22, 25-20, and 25-23 sweep. With the sweep, the Cajuns clinched the No. 4 seed in the Sun Belt Conference West Division in the upcoming conference playoffs. The win also set a new high watermark for wins in a season under head coach Kristi Gray with 16.
It was the Golden Eagles with momentum right out of the gate as a pair of Cajun errors put them ahead 5-2. Kills by Richardson, Mya Wilson, and Cami Hicks as part of a 4-0 run pushed Louisiana ahead at 6-5. From there the sides traded blows before the home side grabbed an 18-17 lead. Richardson then sparked a 5-1 run to flip the script and put the Cajuns in the lead for good in the opening set.
The second set was much like the first with the Golden Eagles taking the early lead at 7-4. Richardson once again sparked a four-point run with a kill to put the Cajuns back on top. After exchanging points an error on the Golden Eagles followed by a Wilson kill and an ace from Chelsea George pushed the Cajuns to a 15-11 lead. The home side cut the lead down to two, but Celeste Darling put the set to bed with three kills as part of a 4-0 run to close the set.
Once again the Cajuns got off to a slow start to a set in the third and trailed 10-6. From there the team went to work on finishing off the sweep. Kara Barnes started a 5-0 run with a kill that was capped off by another kill by Richardson to take the lead 11-10. The sides traded points and the Golden Eagles retook the lead at 15-14.
After a Golden Eagle error tied the score, Barnes registered a pair of kills around another by Richardson to go up 18-15. Darling followed with two of her own on back-to-back points to keep an insurmountable cushion the rest of the way in the sweep.
Darling finished the night with 11 kills along with a pair of blocks. Wilson added eight kills and four blocks. Siena Decambra ended with 32 assists to go along with seven digs. Hicks led the defense with five blocks and added three kills on the offensive end.
Only one weekend of the regular season remains for the Cajuns. They'll be back home next week to host App State beginning Friday, November 10 at 6 p.m. from E.K. Long Gym. On Saturday the team will honor their seniors on Senior Day.
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.
Richardson, a junior, led all players with 12 kills along with a team-high 12 digs in the 25-22, 25-20, and 25-23 sweep. With the sweep, the Cajuns clinched the No. 4 seed in the Sun Belt Conference West Division in the upcoming conference playoffs. The win also set a new high watermark for wins in a season under head coach Kristi Gray with 16.
It was the Golden Eagles with momentum right out of the gate as a pair of Cajun errors put them ahead 5-2. Kills by Richardson, Mya Wilson, and Cami Hicks as part of a 4-0 run pushed Louisiana ahead at 6-5. From there the sides traded blows before the home side grabbed an 18-17 lead. Richardson then sparked a 5-1 run to flip the script and put the Cajuns in the lead for good in the opening set.
The second set was much like the first with the Golden Eagles taking the early lead at 7-4. Richardson once again sparked a four-point run with a kill to put the Cajuns back on top. After exchanging points an error on the Golden Eagles followed by a Wilson kill and an ace from Chelsea George pushed the Cajuns to a 15-11 lead. The home side cut the lead down to two, but Celeste Darling put the set to bed with three kills as part of a 4-0 run to close the set.
Once again the Cajuns got off to a slow start to a set in the third and trailed 10-6. From there the team went to work on finishing off the sweep. Kara Barnes started a 5-0 run with a kill that was capped off by another kill by Richardson to take the lead 11-10. The sides traded points and the Golden Eagles retook the lead at 15-14.
After a Golden Eagle error tied the score, Barnes registered a pair of kills around another by Richardson to go up 18-15. Darling followed with two of her own on back-to-back points to keep an insurmountable cushion the rest of the way in the sweep.
Darling finished the night with 11 kills along with a pair of blocks. Wilson added eight kills and four blocks. Siena Decambra ended with 32 assists to go along with seven digs. Hicks led the defense with five blocks and added three kills on the offensive end.
Only one weekend of the regular season remains for the Cajuns. They'll be back home next week to host App State beginning Friday, November 10 at 6 p.m. from E.K. Long Gym. On Saturday the team will honor their seniors on Senior Day.
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.
Team Stats
UL
USM
Kills
44
35
Errors
17
13
Attempts
129
115
Hitting %
.209
.191
Points
56.0
44.0
Assists
36
32
Aces
5
3
Blocks
7.0
6.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
12
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
MB
/ VolleyballOPP
/ Volleyball
DS
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballOPP
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