University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Friday, November 1
Lafayette
6:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
6-14, 2-7SBC
1
vs
3
Arkansas State
19-4, 9-2SBC
1
2
3
4
F
Arkansas State
23
25
25
25
3
Louisiana
25
18
16
16
1
Ragin’ Cajuns Turned Back in Series Opener with Red Wolves
11/1/2024 10:37:00 PM | Volleyball
After first-set win, Louisiana trailed the rest of the way
LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball team was unable to hold onto the momentum gained from a first-set victory and Arkansas State rallied for a 3-1 (23-25, 25-18, 25-16, 25-16) win on Friday, November 1 at E.K. Long Gym.
After Set 1, the Ragin' Cajuns (6-14, 2-7 SBC) played catch up as there weren't any ties or lead changes the rest of the way – the Red Wolves (19-4, 9-2 SBC) serving up 5-0, 4-0 and 2-0 starts the remaining frames.
Arkansas State's 67 percent side out rate for the match paid dividends, preventing Cajuns rallies in the second and third set while protecting a slim lead early in the third set.
Louisiana had the crisper start on offense, outscoring ASU 15-10 in kills in the opening frame. The Red Wolves reversed course afterwards, storming back with 41 kills while holding UL to 26 kills over the final three stanzas.
After both sides sized each other up and played even through the night's first 26 points, UL made the first move. Lauryn Hill broke a 13-all tie with a kill, the Cajuns scored off their block (Ella Chaney and Cami Hicks) and then a Red Wolves block error increased the lead to 16-13.
Louisiana moved ahead 21-15 on a Megan Hawkins ace before ASU made a late push to draw even at 23-all. Hill secured the set when she once again snapped a tie, scoring the final pair of her set-high four kills on consecutive rallies to collect set point.
The fast starts in Sets 2 and 3 contributed to an identical 11-5 lead for Arkansas State that set the visitors on the path to taking the match lead.
The Cajuns attempt to jump ahead on the scoreboard in Set 4 was spoiled by untimely service errors, the latter coming at 3-2. Louisiana made another charge with a Cailin Demps kill, Kennedy Gustafson ace and a block from Hill sparking a 4-0 run that trimmed ASU's lead to 14-11, however the Red Wolves responded with a 4-1 spurt to stretch the lead back out.
ASU snapped a seven-match losing streak to Louisiana. For the Ragin' Cajuns, the loss places the squad in a must-win situation on Saturday to stay in the running for a spot in the SBC Championship tournament.
LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Hill totaled a season-high 17 kills on an impressive .325 hitting percentage. She had back-to-back, five-kill efforts over Sets 2 and 3.
The defensive leader was also Hill as she rounded up a match-high tying 20 digs and had a hand in a pair of blocks.
Hicks tallied team-bests of three blocks and four aces. The blocks pushed her season total to 109 – a new personal single-season total (besting the 107 from 2022).
Libero Mio Yamamoto posted her 18th double-figure digs total in 20 matches, collecting 18 digs. Now at 384 digs, she's closing on a second consecutive 400-digs campaign.
Hawkins (17 assists) and Danielle Taix (16 assists) combined to hand out 33 of the Cajuns' 39 assists.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana and Arkansas State complete the two-match Sun Belt Conference series on Saturday, November 2 at 1:00 p.m. at E.K. Long Gym.
The Ragin' Cajuns seek to gain a split of the SBC series with the Red Wolves which would keep the team in the running for the SBC Championship tournament. Live coverage of the match is available on ESPN+.
The UL Volleyball program will be conducting a canned food drive to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank.
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.
After Set 1, the Ragin' Cajuns (6-14, 2-7 SBC) played catch up as there weren't any ties or lead changes the rest of the way – the Red Wolves (19-4, 9-2 SBC) serving up 5-0, 4-0 and 2-0 starts the remaining frames.
Arkansas State's 67 percent side out rate for the match paid dividends, preventing Cajuns rallies in the second and third set while protecting a slim lead early in the third set.
Louisiana had the crisper start on offense, outscoring ASU 15-10 in kills in the opening frame. The Red Wolves reversed course afterwards, storming back with 41 kills while holding UL to 26 kills over the final three stanzas.
After both sides sized each other up and played even through the night's first 26 points, UL made the first move. Lauryn Hill broke a 13-all tie with a kill, the Cajuns scored off their block (Ella Chaney and Cami Hicks) and then a Red Wolves block error increased the lead to 16-13.
Louisiana moved ahead 21-15 on a Megan Hawkins ace before ASU made a late push to draw even at 23-all. Hill secured the set when she once again snapped a tie, scoring the final pair of her set-high four kills on consecutive rallies to collect set point.
The fast starts in Sets 2 and 3 contributed to an identical 11-5 lead for Arkansas State that set the visitors on the path to taking the match lead.
The Cajuns attempt to jump ahead on the scoreboard in Set 4 was spoiled by untimely service errors, the latter coming at 3-2. Louisiana made another charge with a Cailin Demps kill, Kennedy Gustafson ace and a block from Hill sparking a 4-0 run that trimmed ASU's lead to 14-11, however the Red Wolves responded with a 4-1 spurt to stretch the lead back out.
ASU snapped a seven-match losing streak to Louisiana. For the Ragin' Cajuns, the loss places the squad in a must-win situation on Saturday to stay in the running for a spot in the SBC Championship tournament.
LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Hill totaled a season-high 17 kills on an impressive .325 hitting percentage. She had back-to-back, five-kill efforts over Sets 2 and 3.
The defensive leader was also Hill as she rounded up a match-high tying 20 digs and had a hand in a pair of blocks.
Hicks tallied team-bests of three blocks and four aces. The blocks pushed her season total to 109 – a new personal single-season total (besting the 107 from 2022).
Libero Mio Yamamoto posted her 18th double-figure digs total in 20 matches, collecting 18 digs. Now at 384 digs, she's closing on a second consecutive 400-digs campaign.
Hawkins (17 assists) and Danielle Taix (16 assists) combined to hand out 33 of the Cajuns' 39 assists.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana and Arkansas State complete the two-match Sun Belt Conference series on Saturday, November 2 at 1:00 p.m. at E.K. Long Gym.
The Ragin' Cajuns seek to gain a split of the SBC series with the Red Wolves which would keep the team in the running for the SBC Championship tournament. Live coverage of the match is available on ESPN+.
The UL Volleyball program will be conducting a canned food drive to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank.
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
ASU
UL
Kills
51
41
Errors
12
24
Attempts
147
158
Hitting %
.265
.108
Points
66.0
54.0
Assists
48
39
Aces
4
8
Blocks
11.0
5.0
Game Leaders
Kills
17
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
3
Aces
4
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
UTL
/ VolleyballOH/OPP
/ Volleyball
DS
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballMB
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
DS
/ Volleyball
L
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