Louisiana Visits Tulane for Volleyball Exhibition Match

NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball team winds down preseason preparations with its first look at outside competition on Friday, August 23 in an exhibition match against Tulane at the Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse.

First serve is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on the Tulane campus. Admission to the event is free.

It's the only exhibition match of the preseason for the Ragin' Cajuns who will next be in action when the regular season officially begins from August 30-September 1 at E.K. Long Gym in the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic.

Louisiana is entering Year No. 4 with head coach Kristi Gray this fall. Last season, the Ragin' Cajuns (19-13, 9-7 SBC) posted the highest win total of Gray's tenure, totaling 19 victories, and claimed an SBC Tournament win for the third consecutive season.

The 2024 roster is highlighted by a pair of returning All-Sun Belt performers: libero Mio Yamamoto, the reigning SBC Libero of the Year and preseason choice to claim the award, and setter Siena DeCambra who is coming off her first 1,000-plus assists season. Key frontline returners include middle blocker Cami Hicks, the owner of back-to-back 100-plus block efforts, and outside hitter Shyia Richardson who is coming off a 300-200 season of kills and digs.

SET POINTS

Louisiana and Tulane meet in an exhibition setting for the second straight year. UL captured a 2-1 (16-25, 25-14, 27-25) win back on August 17, 2023.
The Ragin' Cajuns visit Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse for the first time since August 2018 when they participated in the Tulane I-10 Challenge.
Entering her fifth and final campaign with Louisiana (COVID-extended career), graduate Cami Hicks stands 45 blocks away from becoming the program's career leader in the rally scoring era.
In her debut with Louisiana last season, Mio Yamamoto led the Sun Belt in total digs (296) during conference play in earning the highest honors for a libero in UL Volleyball history – first team All-SBC and Libero of the Year.
Returning All-Sun Belt performer Siena DeCambra turned in the first 1,000-plus assists season of her collegiate career in 2023. She finished Top 50 nationally with 1,165 assists.
Shyia Richardson drove the Cajuns offense last fall, totaling team-bests of 380 kills overall and 187 in Sun Belt play. Richardson, who posted the first 300-plus season by a Cajun since current assistant coach Kelsey Bennett in 2021, generated double figures in kills in 19 of the season's 32 matches.
There are six newcomers on the Ragin' Cajuns roster headlined by transfers Cailin Demps (Southern Miss) and Chelsea Gilmore (N.C. State) who are expected to make significant contributions.
Head coach Kristi Gray is poised to become the second-fastest in program history to reach 50 victories, trailing only Wilo Colon who reached the mark in 84 matches. She enters the 2024 season with a 49-37 record at Louisiana.
Mio Yamamoto represented Louisiana on the 2024 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Volleyball team. Yamamoto was selected the Preseason SBC Libero of the Year; she claimed the award in 2023.
In the Sun Belt Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll, the Ragin' Cajuns were picked fourth in the SBC West Division.
Louisiana will be opening regular season play at home for the first time since the COVID-shortened 2020 season when the squad hosts the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic from August 30-September 1.

LOOKING AHEAD
The fourth season of the Kristi Gray era officially begins Friday-Sunday, August 30-September 1 when Louisiana opens regular season play by hosting the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic tournament at E.K. Long Gym.

The Ragin' Cajuns season opener is set for Friday, August 30 at 6:00 p.m. vs. Jackson State at E.K. Long.

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 -

Louisiana Visits Tulane for Volleyball Exhibition Match

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Players Mentioned

Siena DeCambra

Cailin Demps

Chelsea Gilmore

Cami Hicks

Shyia Richardson

Mio Yamamoto

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University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics

Louisiana Visits Tulane for Volleyball Exhibition Match

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Players Mentioned

Siena DeCambra

Cailin Demps

Chelsea Gilmore

Cami Hicks

Shyia Richardson

Mio Yamamoto

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