University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Friday, August 25
Starkville, Miss.
3:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
1-0
3
vs
0
Northwestern State
0-2
1
2
3
F
Northwestern State
25
20
20
0
Louisiana
27
25
25
3
Louisiana Volleyball Overpowers Northwestern State in Season Opener
8/25/2023 6:26:00 PM | Volleyball
Ragin’ Cajuns follow Shyia Richardson’s lead to successful 2023 debut
STARKVILLE, Miss. – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball team withstood a fast start from Northwestern State and rallies from the Demons in the final two sets to claim a 3-0 (27-25, 25-20, 25-20) straight sets sweep on Friday, August 25 in the StarkVegas Classic at the Newell-Grissom Building.
With the win, Louisiana (1-0) remained unbeaten in season openers with Kristi Gray. Friday's contest kicked off Year No. 3 with Gray.
An expected strength entering the season was the Cajuns' offense, and the unit delivered with at least 14 kills in every set in building a 48-36 kills advantage over NSU (0-2). UL hit .300-plus the first two frames and finished at a .269 clip (48 K, 16 E, 119 TA).
NSU opened with six kills off its first nine swings and held a 100 percent side out rate in building an 11-8 lead from the start. Louisiana gradually overcame the Demons early efficiency in large part to an 18-12 edge in kills in the opening set.
Shyia Richardson, who would score at least five kills in each set, had three key kills during the stretch in which UL opened a 22-18 advantage. The Demons rallied and were at set point, 25-24, before the Cajuns came up with their first block (Kara Barnes and Siena DeCambra). Two rallies later Louisiana claimed Set 1 on Kennedy Gustafson's third ace of the frame.
Louisiana rolled out to an 8-4 lead in Set 2 only to have NSU storm back and even the score at 10-all. The hot hand of Richardson scored a kill on the next rally – the first of three occasions she snapped a tie and kept the Cajuns one step ahead, the latter starting a 3-0 run that prompted a Demons timeout at 20-17.
Barnes and Mya Wilson teamed up for a block and Richardson followed with a kill to give UL a comfortable 17-12 lead in Set 3. NSU closed within a point, 19-18, but the Cajuns poise carried them through.
Celeste Darling scored a kill to end a 4-0 Demons run, then knotted at 20-all the defense forced a miscue and Richardson posted another kill to make it 22-20 and begin the pull away.
LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Richardson stole the show with a match-high 17 kills in her Ragin' Cajuns debut, marking the 25th double-digit output of her collegiate career. The San Francisco transfer hit an impressive .317 over her 41 swings.
The trio of Darling (9 kills), Barnes (8 kills) and Cami Hicks (8 kills) combined for 26 kills in support of Richardson. That gave Louisiana four players who had more kills than any of the NSU attackers.
Barnes had a hand in three blocks, tops amongst all players in the match. Wilson (two blocks) was the other Cajun involved in multiple blocks.
Freshman Kennedy Gustafson and JUCO transfer Mio Yamamoto were the Ragin' Cajuns to reach double figures in digs, collecting 10 apiece.
Setter Siena DeCambra was responsible for 39 of Louisiana's 44 assists. She scooped seven digs and tallied a kill and a block.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns continue play in the StarkVegas Classic on Saturday, August 26 facing Eastern Kentucky in a 2:00 p.m. match at the Newell-Grissom Building in Starkville, Mississippi.
The EKU matchup is the lone contest for Louisiana on Saturday. The squad wraps up play in Starkville on Sunday, August 27 against Mississippi State in a 1:00 p.m. match on SEC Network Plus.
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.
With the win, Louisiana (1-0) remained unbeaten in season openers with Kristi Gray. Friday's contest kicked off Year No. 3 with Gray.
An expected strength entering the season was the Cajuns' offense, and the unit delivered with at least 14 kills in every set in building a 48-36 kills advantage over NSU (0-2). UL hit .300-plus the first two frames and finished at a .269 clip (48 K, 16 E, 119 TA).
NSU opened with six kills off its first nine swings and held a 100 percent side out rate in building an 11-8 lead from the start. Louisiana gradually overcame the Demons early efficiency in large part to an 18-12 edge in kills in the opening set.
Shyia Richardson, who would score at least five kills in each set, had three key kills during the stretch in which UL opened a 22-18 advantage. The Demons rallied and were at set point, 25-24, before the Cajuns came up with their first block (Kara Barnes and Siena DeCambra). Two rallies later Louisiana claimed Set 1 on Kennedy Gustafson's third ace of the frame.
Louisiana rolled out to an 8-4 lead in Set 2 only to have NSU storm back and even the score at 10-all. The hot hand of Richardson scored a kill on the next rally – the first of three occasions she snapped a tie and kept the Cajuns one step ahead, the latter starting a 3-0 run that prompted a Demons timeout at 20-17.
Barnes and Mya Wilson teamed up for a block and Richardson followed with a kill to give UL a comfortable 17-12 lead in Set 3. NSU closed within a point, 19-18, but the Cajuns poise carried them through.
Celeste Darling scored a kill to end a 4-0 Demons run, then knotted at 20-all the defense forced a miscue and Richardson posted another kill to make it 22-20 and begin the pull away.
LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Richardson stole the show with a match-high 17 kills in her Ragin' Cajuns debut, marking the 25th double-digit output of her collegiate career. The San Francisco transfer hit an impressive .317 over her 41 swings.
The trio of Darling (9 kills), Barnes (8 kills) and Cami Hicks (8 kills) combined for 26 kills in support of Richardson. That gave Louisiana four players who had more kills than any of the NSU attackers.
Barnes had a hand in three blocks, tops amongst all players in the match. Wilson (two blocks) was the other Cajun involved in multiple blocks.
Freshman Kennedy Gustafson and JUCO transfer Mio Yamamoto were the Ragin' Cajuns to reach double figures in digs, collecting 10 apiece.
Setter Siena DeCambra was responsible for 39 of Louisiana's 44 assists. She scooped seven digs and tallied a kill and a block.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns continue play in the StarkVegas Classic on Saturday, August 26 facing Eastern Kentucky in a 2:00 p.m. match at the Newell-Grissom Building in Starkville, Mississippi.
The EKU matchup is the lone contest for Louisiana on Saturday. The squad wraps up play in Starkville on Sunday, August 27 against Mississippi State in a 1:00 p.m. match on SEC Network Plus.
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
NSU
UL
Kills
36
48
Errors
16
16
Attempts
102
119
Hitting %
.196
.269
Points
42.0
57.0
Assists
34
44
Aces
2
5
Blocks
4.0
4.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
17
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
8
Aces
2
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
MB
/ VolleyballOPP
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
DS
/ VolleyballMB
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
OPP
/ Volleyball
L
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