University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Friday, September 1
Lubbock, Texas
4:30 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
4-1
3
vs
0
Texas A&M-Commerce
2-4
1
2
3
F
Texas A&M-Commerce
12
18
19
0
Louisiana
25
25
25
3
Cajuns Early Season Success Continues in Red Raider Classic Opener
9/1/2023 8:11:00 PM | Volleyball
Louisiana posts fourth sweep in dispatching Texas A&M-Commerce
LUBBOCK, Texas – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball team used a balanced and efficient offensive attack to sweep away Texas A&M-Commerce and claim a 3-0 (25-12, 25-18, 25-19) win on Friday, September 1 in the Red Raider Classic at United Supermarkets Arena.
The Ragin' Cajuns (4-1) had seven players post kills totals ranging from four upwards to nine, combining to produce a walloping 45-26 advantage in kills. Louisiana used only 99 attack attempts and finished with a season-high .323 hitting percentage.
The defense limited A&M-Commerce (2-4) to single digits in kills per set, holding the Lions to 26 kills (8.7/set) on a .087 hitting percentage. It was the second straight match that UL held the opposition to a sub-.100 percentage (No. 18 Rice, .082).
The win marked a victorious start to head coach Kristi Gray's homecoming in Lubbock. An alumna of Texas Tech, Gray completed her undergraduate studies in 2012.
It was the fourth straight sets sweep – through only five matches played – by Louisiana. The Ragin' Cajuns have been victorious in 14 of the 17 sets competed in to date.
HOW IT HAPPENED
There were nine ties from the onset of the match before the Cajuns found their footing and ran away. UL secured separation when Kara Barnes' block stood in the way of a Lions shot, resulting in an 11-9 lead instead of another tie.
Louisiana's run would grow to seven points opening a 15-9 lead. The outcome was solidified when Lauryn Hill's kill and Celeste Darling's heads-up play on an overpass upped the lead to 20-12 and sparked the start of a set-ending 7-0 run.
The Cajuns never trailed on the way to a 2-0 match lead, securing the upper hand when Cami Hicks took a quick set and landed the middle-kill for a 4-2 edge. The rest of the way it was a steady dose of Darling and Hill who combined for 10 kills in the frame including going back-to-back to preserve the edge after A&M-Commerce trimmed the lead to 10-9.
The two teams traded scoring runs in Set 3 before UL finished the sweep. Chelsea George served up back-to-back aces that pulled UL into the lead at 5-4, the scoring spree continuing until it was 9-4. The Lions countered, capping off a 9-3 run with a combo block for a 13-12 lead.
The Cajuns shook off ties at 15-and 16-all and were ahead to stay after Mya Wilson connected on the slide play for an 18-16 advantage. Barnes followed with a kill of an overpass and the Lions would be unsuccessful at returning the deficit below three points.
LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Barnes and Darling finished tied for the team-lead with nine kills. It was error-free production from Barnes who used only 12 attempts and hit .750.
Hill, making her season debut after a preseason injury, provided seven kills off her 19 swings and scored two aces.
Barnes headlined defensively, also. The senior middle blocker had a hand in four blocks.
Setter Siena DeCambra had an all-around effort as well, adding seven digs and three blocks to her 39 assists (13.0/set).
George totaled a match-high three aces and Mio Yamamoto rounded up a match-high tying 13 digs which marked her season-high total.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns conclude play in the Red Raider Classic with a doubleheader on Saturday, September 2 in Lubbock, Texas featuring matches against Wyoming at 11:30 a.m. and Texas Tech at 7:00 p.m. at the United Supermarkets Arena.
Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+. Live stats can be accessed at CajunStats.com.
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 (4-1) had seven players post kills totals ranging from four upwards to nine, combining to produce a walloping 45-26 advantage in kills. Louisiana used only 99 attack attempts and finished with a season-high .323 hitting percentage.
The defense limited A&M-Commerce (2-4) to single digits in kills per set, holding the Lions to 26 kills (8.7/set) on a .087 hitting percentage. It was the second straight match that UL held the opposition to a sub-.100 percentage (No. 18 Rice, .082).
The win marked a victorious start to head coach Kristi Gray's homecoming in Lubbock. An alumna of Texas Tech, Gray completed her undergraduate studies in 2012.
It was the fourth straight sets sweep – through only five matches played – by Louisiana. The Ragin' Cajuns have been victorious in 14 of the 17 sets competed in to date.
HOW IT HAPPENED
There were nine ties from the onset of the match before the Cajuns found their footing and ran away. UL secured separation when Kara Barnes' block stood in the way of a Lions shot, resulting in an 11-9 lead instead of another tie.
Louisiana's run would grow to seven points opening a 15-9 lead. The outcome was solidified when Lauryn Hill's kill and Celeste Darling's heads-up play on an overpass upped the lead to 20-12 and sparked the start of a set-ending 7-0 run.
The Cajuns never trailed on the way to a 2-0 match lead, securing the upper hand when Cami Hicks took a quick set and landed the middle-kill for a 4-2 edge. The rest of the way it was a steady dose of Darling and Hill who combined for 10 kills in the frame including going back-to-back to preserve the edge after A&M-Commerce trimmed the lead to 10-9.
The two teams traded scoring runs in Set 3 before UL finished the sweep. Chelsea George served up back-to-back aces that pulled UL into the lead at 5-4, the scoring spree continuing until it was 9-4. The Lions countered, capping off a 9-3 run with a combo block for a 13-12 lead.
The Cajuns shook off ties at 15-and 16-all and were ahead to stay after Mya Wilson connected on the slide play for an 18-16 advantage. Barnes followed with a kill of an overpass and the Lions would be unsuccessful at returning the deficit below three points.
LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Barnes and Darling finished tied for the team-lead with nine kills. It was error-free production from Barnes who used only 12 attempts and hit .750.
Hill, making her season debut after a preseason injury, provided seven kills off her 19 swings and scored two aces.
Barnes headlined defensively, also. The senior middle blocker had a hand in four blocks.
Setter Siena DeCambra had an all-around effort as well, adding seven digs and three blocks to her 39 assists (13.0/set).
George totaled a match-high three aces and Mio Yamamoto rounded up a match-high tying 13 digs which marked her season-high total.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns conclude play in the Red Raider Classic with a doubleheader on Saturday, September 2 in Lubbock, Texas featuring matches against Wyoming at 11:30 a.m. and Texas Tech at 7:00 p.m. at the United Supermarkets Arena.
Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+. Live stats can be accessed at CajunStats.com.
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
TAMC
UL
Kills
26
45
Errors
18
13
Attempts
92
99
Hitting %
.087
.323
Points
35.0
56.0
Assists
26
41
Aces
4
5
Blocks
5.0
6.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
7
Aces
2
Blocks
0
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
MB
/ VolleyballOPP
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
DS
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
OPP
/ Volleyball
L
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