University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Friday, September 15
Lafayette
6:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
3
vs
1
New Orleans
Dominating Response Leads Louisiana Past New Orleans
9/15/2023 9:53:00 PM | Volleyball
Ragin’ Cajuns find footing after opening set, roll on to third straight victory
LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball team quickly reversed course after dropping the opening set to New Orleans and won its third consecutive match after storming back to claim a 3-1 (23-25, 25-14, 25-13, 25-13) victory on Friday, September 15 in the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic at E.K. Long Gym.
Once Louisiana (8-5) aligned all phases of its game, the Privateers hopes were dashed. The Ragin' Cajuns scored 49 kills off of 100 swings on a .420 percentage over the final three sets to overwhelm the Privateers (2-8).
Mya Wilson and Shyia Richardson helped UL right the ship after a mistake-filled opening frame gave the Privateers life early. Wilson led the charge in the Cajuns evening the match with six kills off six swings in Set 2, then Richardson exploded over the final two sets scoring 14 kills including an astounding 10 kills alone in the match-clinching fourth set.
With at least 15 kills in all three set victories – increasing in number in succession up to 18 kills in Set 4 – the Ragin' Cajuns finished with a resounding 61-28 advantage in kills.
Adjustments in lineup after the opening set also led to UL neutralizing a UNO block that posted five in Set 1. The Privateers would only manage two total blocks over the final three stanzas.
With the win, Louisiana secured a winning non-conference record for the third time in as many seasons under the leadership of head coach Kristi Gray.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UNO was the beneficiary of eight consecutive miscues (service, reception or attack) to erase an early deficit and grab a 9-4 lead in Set 1. The Cajuns, who later trailed 20-11, nearly recovered from their troubles slicing the Privateers lead to 24-23 after a Richardson kill and a UNO ball handling error.
It was the hands of Wilson that sparked UL's 8-3 opening run in Set 2, scoring three kills and factoring into three blocks. She later found the floor for three more kills during a stretch in which the Cajuns stretched the lead to 22-13.
UL would not trail the rest of the match, breaking away from the final tie when the first of four kills from Celeste Darling in Set 3 snapped a 4-all tie. Richardson and Kara Barnes joined Darling in totaling four kills in the frame, all but one of the trio's scores coming after the deadlock.
The serve of Mio Yamamoto locked up the final outcome, the Cajuns scoring the first eight points of Set 4 with her behind the line. Richardson carried Louisiana to the finish line, as the final six kills of her 10 total in the set came after UNO trimmed the lead to 14-9.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Richardson's match-high 21 kills marked her season-high total, the third match of the season with 20-plus kills and matched her career-high total of 21 set last September vs. Fresno State.
Also reaching double-digit kills was Wilson with 12 off 21 swings on a .476 percentage, Darling with 10 on just 16 swings at a .562 rate and Barnes who found the floor 10 times on her 20 swings.
Louisiana posted 12 blocks a second straight night, once again led by Cami Hicks who threw up seven blocks. Hicks was one block shy of matching Thursday night's total and now has 15 blocks (1 BS, 14 BA) in the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic.
Siena DeCambra had a helping hand in 52 of the Cajuns' 61 kills, setting a season-high in assists.
UL's defense produced 17-plus digs per set (69 total) led by Kennedy Gustafson's 19 digs. Richardson was second with 13 digs to notch a double-double for the second straight night.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana concludes play in the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic at E.K. Long Gym on Saturday, September 16 meeting Prairie View A&M in the tournament finale at 2:00 p.m.
The Ragin' Cajuns seek a sweep of their home-opening weekend and look to extend their season-best, three-match winning streak. It's the first meeting the PVAMU at E.K. Long Gym since October 1996.
A live broadcast of the match is available on ESPN+ while 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.
Once Louisiana (8-5) aligned all phases of its game, the Privateers hopes were dashed. The Ragin' Cajuns scored 49 kills off of 100 swings on a .420 percentage over the final three sets to overwhelm the Privateers (2-8).
Mya Wilson and Shyia Richardson helped UL right the ship after a mistake-filled opening frame gave the Privateers life early. Wilson led the charge in the Cajuns evening the match with six kills off six swings in Set 2, then Richardson exploded over the final two sets scoring 14 kills including an astounding 10 kills alone in the match-clinching fourth set.
With at least 15 kills in all three set victories – increasing in number in succession up to 18 kills in Set 4 – the Ragin' Cajuns finished with a resounding 61-28 advantage in kills.
Adjustments in lineup after the opening set also led to UL neutralizing a UNO block that posted five in Set 1. The Privateers would only manage two total blocks over the final three stanzas.
With the win, Louisiana secured a winning non-conference record for the third time in as many seasons under the leadership of head coach Kristi Gray.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UNO was the beneficiary of eight consecutive miscues (service, reception or attack) to erase an early deficit and grab a 9-4 lead in Set 1. The Cajuns, who later trailed 20-11, nearly recovered from their troubles slicing the Privateers lead to 24-23 after a Richardson kill and a UNO ball handling error.
It was the hands of Wilson that sparked UL's 8-3 opening run in Set 2, scoring three kills and factoring into three blocks. She later found the floor for three more kills during a stretch in which the Cajuns stretched the lead to 22-13.
UL would not trail the rest of the match, breaking away from the final tie when the first of four kills from Celeste Darling in Set 3 snapped a 4-all tie. Richardson and Kara Barnes joined Darling in totaling four kills in the frame, all but one of the trio's scores coming after the deadlock.
The serve of Mio Yamamoto locked up the final outcome, the Cajuns scoring the first eight points of Set 4 with her behind the line. Richardson carried Louisiana to the finish line, as the final six kills of her 10 total in the set came after UNO trimmed the lead to 14-9.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Richardson's match-high 21 kills marked her season-high total, the third match of the season with 20-plus kills and matched her career-high total of 21 set last September vs. Fresno State.
Also reaching double-digit kills was Wilson with 12 off 21 swings on a .476 percentage, Darling with 10 on just 16 swings at a .562 rate and Barnes who found the floor 10 times on her 20 swings.
Louisiana posted 12 blocks a second straight night, once again led by Cami Hicks who threw up seven blocks. Hicks was one block shy of matching Thursday night's total and now has 15 blocks (1 BS, 14 BA) in the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic.
Siena DeCambra had a helping hand in 52 of the Cajuns' 61 kills, setting a season-high in assists.
UL's defense produced 17-plus digs per set (69 total) led by Kennedy Gustafson's 19 digs. Richardson was second with 13 digs to notch a double-double for the second straight night.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana concludes play in the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic at E.K. Long Gym on Saturday, September 16 meeting Prairie View A&M in the tournament finale at 2:00 p.m.
The Ragin' Cajuns seek a sweep of their home-opening weekend and look to extend their season-best, three-match winning streak. It's the first meeting the PVAMU at E.K. Long Gym since October 1996.
A live broadcast of the match is available on ESPN+ while 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 -
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Volleyball
OPP
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
DS
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
OPP
/ Volleyball
L
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