University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Saturday, October 19
Troy, Ala.
2:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
6-11, 2-4SBC
3
at
2
Troy
8-10, 3-5SBC
1
2
3
4
5
F
Louisiana
17
25
25
23
15
3
Troy
25
19
23
25
10
2
Louisiana Responds and Avenges Loss to Troy
10/19/2024 5:52:00 PM | Volleyball
Ragin’ Cajuns use their block to reverse course in series finale
TROY, Ala. – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball team's frontline defense was the difference maker in a 3-2 (17-25, 25-19, 25-23, 23-25, 15-10) win on Saturday, October 19 that earned the visitors a split of a two-match Sun Belt Conference series with Troy at Trojan Arena.
The Ragin' Cajuns block made its presence known in the final set on Friday and the momentum carried over into the series finale. Louisiana out-blocked Troy by a 17-4 count and the hands at the net wreaked havoc on the Trojans' shots resulting in them committing 34 total attack errors for the match.
Louisiana (6-11, 2-4 SBC) was more discipline than the previous night in not touching the high swings from Troy (8-10, 3-5 SBC) and was successful in finding seams in the Trojans defense leading to a season-best .264 hitting percentage (55 K, 16 E, 148 TA).
The block proved to be UL's trump card in the decisive fifth set. Leading 2-1, the hands of Cami Hicks and Abby Cunningham turned back Amiah Butler preventing the Trojans from pulling even and on the next rally the hands at the net altered an attack attempt causing it to miss the block and result in another attack error.
After a Cailin Demps kill and Mio Yamamoto ace extended the lead in the winner-take-all frame, it was back-to-back blocks that involved Hicks which threw the knockout blow and increased the Ragin' Cajuns lead to 8-1.
Troy made a concerted effort at a run of its own and had the deficit down to 12-9 before UL turned to Lauryn Hill and Demps for back-to-back kills which shored up the result.
With the win the Ragin' Cajuns moved to 6-1 this season in five-set matches. Louisiana earned a critical division triumph and inched closer to a group of five SBC West teams with at least three division wins.
The contest went the distance as Troy benefitted from similar quick starts produced in the series opener and heavy offensive numbers to claim Sets 1 and 4, while Louisiana dialed up the defensive pressure which forced Troy into 17 attack errors and sided out at near 70 percent over Sets 2 and 3.
LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
The Cajuns offense was led by highly efficient efforts from Hill with 16 kills on .342 hitting, Demps with 13 kills off .286 hitting and Abby Cunningham who netted a season-high 10 kills on .226 hitting.
Hicks headlined the front row defense with her match-high 12 blocks, finishing one off of her career-high set back on August 31 vs. Murray State. She had a hand in at least three blocks in each of UL's set victories.
The blocks total moved Hicks to 99 total blocks for the season making a third consecutive 100-plus blocks season inevitable. The Carthage, Texas product has reached at least five blocks in all but three matches.
Cunningham, Chelsea Gilmore and Jalylynn McNeill were all in on five blocks while Hill (4) and Demps (3) joined them in having multiple stuffs leading Louisiana to its season-high tying total (17).
Yamamoto collected a match-high 20 digs, Danielle Taix led with 23 assists and Megan Hawkins posted her team-leading eighth double-double by notching 21 assists and scooping 10 digs.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana returns to the state of Alabama from Thursday-Friday, October 24-25 for a two-match Sun Belt Conference series against South Alabama at Jaguar Gym in Mobile.
First serve between the Ragin' Cajuns and Jaguars is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. both nights. The matches are being broadcast on ESPN+ with live stats available at CajunStats.com.
The USA series completes play in the month of October and ends a four-match road trip for the Ragin' Cajuns who return to E.K. Long on November 1-2 to face Arkansas State.
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 block made its presence known in the final set on Friday and the momentum carried over into the series finale. Louisiana out-blocked Troy by a 17-4 count and the hands at the net wreaked havoc on the Trojans' shots resulting in them committing 34 total attack errors for the match.
Louisiana (6-11, 2-4 SBC) was more discipline than the previous night in not touching the high swings from Troy (8-10, 3-5 SBC) and was successful in finding seams in the Trojans defense leading to a season-best .264 hitting percentage (55 K, 16 E, 148 TA).
The block proved to be UL's trump card in the decisive fifth set. Leading 2-1, the hands of Cami Hicks and Abby Cunningham turned back Amiah Butler preventing the Trojans from pulling even and on the next rally the hands at the net altered an attack attempt causing it to miss the block and result in another attack error.
After a Cailin Demps kill and Mio Yamamoto ace extended the lead in the winner-take-all frame, it was back-to-back blocks that involved Hicks which threw the knockout blow and increased the Ragin' Cajuns lead to 8-1.
Troy made a concerted effort at a run of its own and had the deficit down to 12-9 before UL turned to Lauryn Hill and Demps for back-to-back kills which shored up the result.
With the win the Ragin' Cajuns moved to 6-1 this season in five-set matches. Louisiana earned a critical division triumph and inched closer to a group of five SBC West teams with at least three division wins.
The contest went the distance as Troy benefitted from similar quick starts produced in the series opener and heavy offensive numbers to claim Sets 1 and 4, while Louisiana dialed up the defensive pressure which forced Troy into 17 attack errors and sided out at near 70 percent over Sets 2 and 3.
LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
The Cajuns offense was led by highly efficient efforts from Hill with 16 kills on .342 hitting, Demps with 13 kills off .286 hitting and Abby Cunningham who netted a season-high 10 kills on .226 hitting.
Hicks headlined the front row defense with her match-high 12 blocks, finishing one off of her career-high set back on August 31 vs. Murray State. She had a hand in at least three blocks in each of UL's set victories.
The blocks total moved Hicks to 99 total blocks for the season making a third consecutive 100-plus blocks season inevitable. The Carthage, Texas product has reached at least five blocks in all but three matches.
Cunningham, Chelsea Gilmore and Jalylynn McNeill were all in on five blocks while Hill (4) and Demps (3) joined them in having multiple stuffs leading Louisiana to its season-high tying total (17).
Yamamoto collected a match-high 20 digs, Danielle Taix led with 23 assists and Megan Hawkins posted her team-leading eighth double-double by notching 21 assists and scooping 10 digs.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana returns to the state of Alabama from Thursday-Friday, October 24-25 for a two-match Sun Belt Conference series against South Alabama at Jaguar Gym in Mobile.
First serve between the Ragin' Cajuns and Jaguars is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. both nights. The matches are being broadcast on ESPN+ with live stats available at CajunStats.com.
The USA series completes play in the month of October and ends a four-match road trip for the Ragin' Cajuns who return to E.K. Long on November 1-2 to face Arkansas State.
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
UL
TROY
Kills
55
73
Errors
16
34
Attempts
148
182
Hitting %
.264
.214
Points
75.0
79.0
Assists
52
70
Aces
3
2
Blocks
17.0
4.0
Game Leaders
Kills
16
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Players Mentioned
OH
/ VolleyballOH/OPP
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
DS
/ Volleyball
L
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