University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Friday, October 10
Hattiesburg, Miss.
6:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
10-5, 2-3SBC
0
at
3
Southern Miss
12-4, 4-1SBC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 31 | 24 | 21 | 0 |
| Southern Miss | 33 | 26 | 25 | 3 |
USM Takes Series Opener from Louisiana by Thinnest of Margins
10/10/2025 9:32:00 PM | Volleyball
First two sets went extra points, ending the Golden Eagles’ favor both times
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Louisiana Volleyball's Grace Sweeney and Cailin Demps combined for 34 kills, but the good fortune Southern Miss found overshadowed their efforts in the Golden Eagles' 3-0 win (33-31, 26-24, 25-21) on Friday, October 10 at the USM Wellness Center in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
Demps fired off eight kills in the opening set including three during extra points, but Southern Miss fought off set point three times and a call reversal that took a set point away to survive the 15 ties and five lead changes that the opening frame featured.
The Sweeney-Demps combo accounted for 10 more kills in Set 2 with back-to-back scores from Demps providing a 22-21 lead and positioning Louisiana (10-5, 2-3 SBC) for a chance at evening the score.
A combo block from Demps and Chelsea Gilmore had the Cajuns at set point, 24-22, but USM (12-4, 4-1 SBC) turned the tables. Consecutive kills from Elly Stewart forced extra points and then two straight kills from Brynn Botkin clinched the set and Louisiana faced an unfathomable 2-0 match deficit.
The Golden Eagles continued the momentum swing into Set 3, scoring the first three points and never relinquished the lead.
Sweeney did her best to will the Ragin' Cajuns back by registering eight kills in the final stanza. She scored three kills during a 5-1 run that sliced USM's lead to 13-10 and later was involved in three consecutive scores that trimmed the deficit to 22-18.
Louisiana boasted the more efficient and productive offense, holding a 54-46 edge in kills and out-hitting USM .287-.279. However, its aggressive serve was unable to pay dividends committing 17 service errors to the Golden Eagles' eight in a match decided by just eight points.
The Ragin' Cajuns dropped an SBC series opener for the first time this season and was saddled with a second straight defeat for the first time as well.
Friday's contest marked the first visit back to Hattiesburg for Demps, who played for USM from 2022-23, since transferring to Louisiana in spring 2024.
LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Sweeney posted a match-high 19 kills off of only 33 swings, finishing with a .515 hitting percentage. The production pushed her past the 100-kills mark (now at 115 kills) in her collegiate rookie campaign.
Demps started out the night error-free the first 29 swings, scoring 13 kills the first two sets, before settling with 15 kills for her 11th double-digit effort and fifth in as many SBC matches.
Of the Ragin' Cajuns five blocks, Demps and Marlee Ervin were the two players involved in multiple ones (two apiece).
Kennedy Gustafson's 16 digs marked another match-high total for Louisiana. The junior libero added eight assists to her stat line.
Ryleigh Garis paced the 6-2 attack with 26 assists while joining Nene Hawkins (16 assists) in directing the offense to a .250-plus hitting percentage for the eight time this season.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana and Southern Miss complete the two-match Sun Belt Conference series on Saturday, October 11 at 2:00 p.m. at the USM Wellness Center in Hattiesburg, Miss.
The Ragin' Cajuns seek to halt a two-match losing skid and also look prevent the Golden Eagles from becoming the first to sweep the series in a matchup between the two programs since USM joined the SBC in 2023.
A live broadcast of the match is available on ESPN+ while live stats can be accessed at CajunStats.StatBroadcast.com.
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.
Demps fired off eight kills in the opening set including three during extra points, but Southern Miss fought off set point three times and a call reversal that took a set point away to survive the 15 ties and five lead changes that the opening frame featured.
The Sweeney-Demps combo accounted for 10 more kills in Set 2 with back-to-back scores from Demps providing a 22-21 lead and positioning Louisiana (10-5, 2-3 SBC) for a chance at evening the score.
A combo block from Demps and Chelsea Gilmore had the Cajuns at set point, 24-22, but USM (12-4, 4-1 SBC) turned the tables. Consecutive kills from Elly Stewart forced extra points and then two straight kills from Brynn Botkin clinched the set and Louisiana faced an unfathomable 2-0 match deficit.
The Golden Eagles continued the momentum swing into Set 3, scoring the first three points and never relinquished the lead.
Sweeney did her best to will the Ragin' Cajuns back by registering eight kills in the final stanza. She scored three kills during a 5-1 run that sliced USM's lead to 13-10 and later was involved in three consecutive scores that trimmed the deficit to 22-18.
Louisiana boasted the more efficient and productive offense, holding a 54-46 edge in kills and out-hitting USM .287-.279. However, its aggressive serve was unable to pay dividends committing 17 service errors to the Golden Eagles' eight in a match decided by just eight points.
The Ragin' Cajuns dropped an SBC series opener for the first time this season and was saddled with a second straight defeat for the first time as well.
Friday's contest marked the first visit back to Hattiesburg for Demps, who played for USM from 2022-23, since transferring to Louisiana in spring 2024.
LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Sweeney posted a match-high 19 kills off of only 33 swings, finishing with a .515 hitting percentage. The production pushed her past the 100-kills mark (now at 115 kills) in her collegiate rookie campaign.
Demps started out the night error-free the first 29 swings, scoring 13 kills the first two sets, before settling with 15 kills for her 11th double-digit effort and fifth in as many SBC matches.
Of the Ragin' Cajuns five blocks, Demps and Marlee Ervin were the two players involved in multiple ones (two apiece).
Kennedy Gustafson's 16 digs marked another match-high total for Louisiana. The junior libero added eight assists to her stat line.
Ryleigh Garis paced the 6-2 attack with 26 assists while joining Nene Hawkins (16 assists) in directing the offense to a .250-plus hitting percentage for the eight time this season.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana and Southern Miss complete the two-match Sun Belt Conference series on Saturday, October 11 at 2:00 p.m. at the USM Wellness Center in Hattiesburg, Miss.
The Ragin' Cajuns seek to halt a two-match losing skid and also look prevent the Golden Eagles from becoming the first to sweep the series in a matchup between the two programs since USM joined the SBC in 2023.
A live broadcast of the match is available on ESPN+ while live stats can be accessed at CajunStats.StatBroadcast.com.
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
USM
Kills
54
46
Errors
15
12
Attempts
136
122
Hitting %
.287
.279
Points
61.0
57.0
Assists
53
43
Aces
2
4
Blocks
5.0
7.0
Game Leaders
Kills
19
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
15
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
OPP
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballMB
/ Volleyball
L
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballOH
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