University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Mavs Edge Out Cajuns in Defensive Tug-of-War
9/1/2024 2:31:00 PM | Volleyball
Louisiana and UT Arlington leaned upon defense to generate offense
LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball team was involved in a defensive slugfest with UT Arlington on Sunday, September 1 at E.K. Long Gym and it was the visiting Mavericks who emerged with a 3-0 (25-23, 25-17, 25-17) victory in the finale of the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic.
Defense indeed ruled the day as the two teams' combined efforts resulted in neither one reaching 40 kills and there being a combined 42 attack errors.
UTA (3-0) held the trump card as the Mavericks produced a 34-28 advantage in kills and their defense pressured UL (1-2) into 24 attack errors and limited the Cajuns to a .040 hitting percentage.
The Cajuns had the script flipped on them one day removed from having a commanding edge in blocks resulted in a win over Murray State. It was UTA out-blocking Louisiana 13.0-7.0 for the decisive advantage in the defensive battle.
UL appeared to have UTA backed into a corner in the opening set, using pressure early to force three attack errors during an 8-4 start. The Mavs used a 5-1 run to even the score at 9-all and back-and-forth play ensued.
Kills from Abby Cunningham and Jazmine Gaston and a Mavs miscue pushed Louisiana ahead 21-18, however went on a 5-0 spurt during which back-to-back combo blocks from Brianna Ford and Alexis Bull created the final lead change at 22-21.
UTA broke free from the Cajuns in the second set, erasing a 9-5 deficit during a 14-0 scoring spree.
Cami Hicks and Lauryn Hill's block gave Louisiana a 6-5 lead in the third set, however the Mavs quickly reversed course with a 7-0 run.
The Cajuns moved within three points, 16-13, during a run keyed by an ace from Mio Yamamoto and a pair of blocks. The Mavs turned to Ford to clinch the match on the next three rallies as she delivered back-to-back kills and had a hand in a block to extend the lead to 19-13.
Sunday's contest marked the first meeting between the two programs since the former Sun Belt Conference member Mavericks departed the league following the 2021 season.
LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Hill, celebrating her birthday, finished tied for the team lead in kills with Gaston with eight.
Freshman Jaylynn McNeill was the Cajuns' lead blocker with her weekend-best total of five. Gaston had a hand in three blocks while Hill and Cami Hicks were each involved in two stuffs.
Yamamoto rounded up nine digs in leading a group of four Cajuns with at least five digs. She also added an ace and five assists to her stat line.
Megan Hawkins and Danielle Taix dished out 11 and 10 assists, respectively, while combining for 12 digs.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns travel to Houston for the Flo Hyman Classic with matches from Thursday-Friday, September 5-6 at the Fertitta Center on the University of Houston campus.
UL is slated to play Houston on Thursday (Sept. 5) at 7:00 p.m. and Northwestern State on Friday (Sept 6) at 4:00 p.m.
Louisiana is next at E.K. Long Gym on Tuesday, September 10 for a weekday matchup with McNeese.
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.
Defense indeed ruled the day as the two teams' combined efforts resulted in neither one reaching 40 kills and there being a combined 42 attack errors.
UTA (3-0) held the trump card as the Mavericks produced a 34-28 advantage in kills and their defense pressured UL (1-2) into 24 attack errors and limited the Cajuns to a .040 hitting percentage.
The Cajuns had the script flipped on them one day removed from having a commanding edge in blocks resulted in a win over Murray State. It was UTA out-blocking Louisiana 13.0-7.0 for the decisive advantage in the defensive battle.
UL appeared to have UTA backed into a corner in the opening set, using pressure early to force three attack errors during an 8-4 start. The Mavs used a 5-1 run to even the score at 9-all and back-and-forth play ensued.
Kills from Abby Cunningham and Jazmine Gaston and a Mavs miscue pushed Louisiana ahead 21-18, however went on a 5-0 spurt during which back-to-back combo blocks from Brianna Ford and Alexis Bull created the final lead change at 22-21.
UTA broke free from the Cajuns in the second set, erasing a 9-5 deficit during a 14-0 scoring spree.
Cami Hicks and Lauryn Hill's block gave Louisiana a 6-5 lead in the third set, however the Mavs quickly reversed course with a 7-0 run.
The Cajuns moved within three points, 16-13, during a run keyed by an ace from Mio Yamamoto and a pair of blocks. The Mavs turned to Ford to clinch the match on the next three rallies as she delivered back-to-back kills and had a hand in a block to extend the lead to 19-13.
Sunday's contest marked the first meeting between the two programs since the former Sun Belt Conference member Mavericks departed the league following the 2021 season.
LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Hill, celebrating her birthday, finished tied for the team lead in kills with Gaston with eight.
Freshman Jaylynn McNeill was the Cajuns' lead blocker with her weekend-best total of five. Gaston had a hand in three blocks while Hill and Cami Hicks were each involved in two stuffs.
Yamamoto rounded up nine digs in leading a group of four Cajuns with at least five digs. She also added an ace and five assists to her stat line.
Megan Hawkins and Danielle Taix dished out 11 and 10 assists, respectively, while combining for 12 digs.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns travel to Houston for the Flo Hyman Classic with matches from Thursday-Friday, September 5-6 at the Fertitta Center on the University of Houston campus.
UL is slated to play Houston on Thursday (Sept. 5) at 7:00 p.m. and Northwestern State on Friday (Sept 6) at 4:00 p.m.
Louisiana is next at E.K. Long Gym on Tuesday, September 10 for a weekday matchup with McNeese.
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
UTA
UL
Kills
34
28
Errors
18
24
Attempts
90
101
Hitting %
.178
.040
Points
56.0
41.0
Assists
31
26
Aces
9
6
Blocks
13.0
7.0
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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