University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Trio of Ragin’ Cajuns Placed on All-Louisiana Volleyball Team
1/10/2024 12:53:00 PM | Volleyball
Siena DeCambra, Shyia Richardson and Mio Yamamoto received the postseason honor
LAFAYETTE – Siena DeCambra earned first team honors and Shyia Richardson and Mio Yamamoto received second team honors, representing the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball team on the 2023 Louisiana Sports Writers Association (LSWA) All-Louisiana Volleyball team.
Announced on Wednesday (Jan. 10), the 2023 LSWA volleyball awards were selected by a voting panel which consisted of the state's volleyball athletics communications directors.
The Ragin' Cajuns received a state-high tying three selections on the 23-player team chosen amongst all volleyball programs across the state, sharing the top honor with McNeese and Southeastern Louisiana.
Both DeCambra and Yamamoto picked up another postseason honor as the duo also represented Louisiana on the 2023 All-Sun Belt team.
It's the first All-Louisiana accolade for the entire Ragin' Cajuns trio. For the seventh time in the past eight seasons (since 2016), UL received multiple All-Louisiana selections increasing the number of honorees to 20 during the time period.
DeCambra, also a Second Team All-Sun Belt pick, posted the first 1,000-assists season of her collegiate career (and with Louisiana), in her first season as the primary setter running the 5-1 system. She ranked Top 15 nationally – and led all players in the state of Louisiana – with 1,100 assists during the regular season.
The Maui, Hawaii product directed the Cajuns offense to a .224 hitting percentage and 13.3 kills per set which marked the program's highest total since 2003. DeCambra recorded a team-best 12 double-doubles, which included at least one in each of the final seven conference series.
Richardson delivered a 300-200 seasons of kills and digs in her debut with UL after transferring in from San Francisco. She notched the first 300-kills season of her collegiate career and third consecutive of 200-plus campaign, highlighted by team-bests of 380 kills overall and 187 in Sun Belt play.
In building a 380-kill season, Richardson generated double figures in kills in 18 of 32 matches played. The overall kills total (380) marked fourth-most generated by a Cajun in the rally scoring era (2001-present).
Yamamoto, a First Team All-Sun Belt choice and the SBC Libero of the Year, was the Sun Belt leader in total digs in conference matches, recording 296 of her season total 457 digs (65 percent). She closed the regular season with 14 consecutive double-figure digs totals, hitting the 20-dig mark seven times.
An impressive October-long performance from Yamamoto included six 20-plus dig efforts out of the eight matches played in the month. She averaged 4.0-plus digs per set each of the final seven Sun Belt weekend series.
2023 LSWA All-Louisiana Women's College Volleyball Team
Player of the Year: Kailin Newsome, Southeastern Louisiana
Libero of the Year: Bailey Tillman, McNeese
Newcomer of the Year: Rachel Hartmann, Southeastern Louisiana
Freshman of the Year: Jurnee Robinson, LSU
Coach of the Year: Jeremy White, Southeastern Louisiana
First Team
OH – Avery Burks, Tulane
S – Siena DeCambra, Louisiana
S/OPP – Rachel Hartmann, Southeastern Louisiana
OH – Kailin Newsome, Southeastern Louisiana
OH – Jurnee Robinson, LSU
MB – Reaghan Thompson, Northwestern State
Libero – Bailey Tillman, McNeese
Second Team
MB – Amaya Bazemore, Loyola (N.O.)
OH – Carissa Chainey, McNeese
OH – Karen Cordero Barr, New Orleans
MB – Tshilanda Diouf, McNeese
S – Gracie Duplechein, Southeastern Louisiana
OH – Shyia Richardson, Louisiana
OH – Kennedy Wade, Xavier
Libero – Mio Yamamoto, Louisiana
Honorable Mention
MB – Anita Anwusi, LSU; S – Emma Cother, Louisiana Christian; L – Ruxandra Flueras, Xavier; OH – Teresa Garza, Northwestern State; L – McKenzie Johnson, Louisiana Tech; MB – Taylor Parker, Xavier; MB – Emily Sheperis, Loyola (N.O.); RS – Katie Spell, Louisiana Christian.
ABOUT LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns (19-13, 9-7 SBC) posted their third consecutive winning mark under the guidance of head coach Kristi Gray during the fall 2023 season. UL posted its highest win total of Gray's tenure, totaling 19 victories, and claimed an SBC Tournament win for the third consecutive season.
Balance was the key to the Cajuns success offensively and defensively, with five players posting 150-plus kills and four players collecting 200-plus digs, directed by the efforts of setter Siena DeCambra and libero Mio Yamamoto, both All-Sun Belt selections. Yamamoto was named the SBC Libero of the Year.
For the second consecutive season Gray's exciting up-tempo style of volleyball drew record numbers to E.K. Long Gym, the Cajuns setting the total attendance mark for a single season once again drawing 7,219 over the 11-match home slate.
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.
Announced on Wednesday (Jan. 10), the 2023 LSWA volleyball awards were selected by a voting panel which consisted of the state's volleyball athletics communications directors.
The Ragin' Cajuns received a state-high tying three selections on the 23-player team chosen amongst all volleyball programs across the state, sharing the top honor with McNeese and Southeastern Louisiana.
Both DeCambra and Yamamoto picked up another postseason honor as the duo also represented Louisiana on the 2023 All-Sun Belt team.
It's the first All-Louisiana accolade for the entire Ragin' Cajuns trio. For the seventh time in the past eight seasons (since 2016), UL received multiple All-Louisiana selections increasing the number of honorees to 20 during the time period.
DeCambra, also a Second Team All-Sun Belt pick, posted the first 1,000-assists season of her collegiate career (and with Louisiana), in her first season as the primary setter running the 5-1 system. She ranked Top 15 nationally – and led all players in the state of Louisiana – with 1,100 assists during the regular season.
The Maui, Hawaii product directed the Cajuns offense to a .224 hitting percentage and 13.3 kills per set which marked the program's highest total since 2003. DeCambra recorded a team-best 12 double-doubles, which included at least one in each of the final seven conference series.
Richardson delivered a 300-200 seasons of kills and digs in her debut with UL after transferring in from San Francisco. She notched the first 300-kills season of her collegiate career and third consecutive of 200-plus campaign, highlighted by team-bests of 380 kills overall and 187 in Sun Belt play.
In building a 380-kill season, Richardson generated double figures in kills in 18 of 32 matches played. The overall kills total (380) marked fourth-most generated by a Cajun in the rally scoring era (2001-present).
Yamamoto, a First Team All-Sun Belt choice and the SBC Libero of the Year, was the Sun Belt leader in total digs in conference matches, recording 296 of her season total 457 digs (65 percent). She closed the regular season with 14 consecutive double-figure digs totals, hitting the 20-dig mark seven times.
An impressive October-long performance from Yamamoto included six 20-plus dig efforts out of the eight matches played in the month. She averaged 4.0-plus digs per set each of the final seven Sun Belt weekend series.
2023 LSWA All-Louisiana Women's College Volleyball Team
Player of the Year: Kailin Newsome, Southeastern Louisiana
Libero of the Year: Bailey Tillman, McNeese
Newcomer of the Year: Rachel Hartmann, Southeastern Louisiana
Freshman of the Year: Jurnee Robinson, LSU
Coach of the Year: Jeremy White, Southeastern Louisiana
First Team
OH – Avery Burks, Tulane
S – Siena DeCambra, Louisiana
S/OPP – Rachel Hartmann, Southeastern Louisiana
OH – Kailin Newsome, Southeastern Louisiana
OH – Jurnee Robinson, LSU
MB – Reaghan Thompson, Northwestern State
Libero – Bailey Tillman, McNeese
Second Team
MB – Amaya Bazemore, Loyola (N.O.)
OH – Carissa Chainey, McNeese
OH – Karen Cordero Barr, New Orleans
MB – Tshilanda Diouf, McNeese
S – Gracie Duplechein, Southeastern Louisiana
OH – Shyia Richardson, Louisiana
OH – Kennedy Wade, Xavier
Libero – Mio Yamamoto, Louisiana
Honorable Mention
MB – Anita Anwusi, LSU; S – Emma Cother, Louisiana Christian; L – Ruxandra Flueras, Xavier; OH – Teresa Garza, Northwestern State; L – McKenzie Johnson, Louisiana Tech; MB – Taylor Parker, Xavier; MB – Emily Sheperis, Loyola (N.O.); RS – Katie Spell, Louisiana Christian.
ABOUT LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns (19-13, 9-7 SBC) posted their third consecutive winning mark under the guidance of head coach Kristi Gray during the fall 2023 season. UL posted its highest win total of Gray's tenure, totaling 19 victories, and claimed an SBC Tournament win for the third consecutive season.
Balance was the key to the Cajuns success offensively and defensively, with five players posting 150-plus kills and four players collecting 200-plus digs, directed by the efforts of setter Siena DeCambra and libero Mio Yamamoto, both All-Sun Belt selections. Yamamoto was named the SBC Libero of the Year.
For the second consecutive season Gray's exciting up-tempo style of volleyball drew record numbers to E.K. Long Gym, the Cajuns setting the total attendance mark for a single season once again drawing 7,219 over the 11-match home slate.
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 -
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