University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Thursday, November 13
Statesboro, Ga.
5:00 p.m. (CST)
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
14-11, 6-9SBC
0
at
3
Georgia Southern
19-7, 10-5SBC
1
2
3
F
Louisiana
18
16
16
0
Georgia Southern
25
25
25
3
Ragin’ Cajuns Slowed Down by Eagles Defense
11/13/2025 9:27:00 PM | Volleyball
Georgia Southern was able to weather Louisiana’s persistent attack
STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern used its defense to offset the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball team's attack and the hosts came away with a 3-0 win (25-18, 25-16, 25-16) on Thursday, November 13 in the opening match of an SBC cross-divisional series at Hanner Fieldhouse in Statesboro, Georgia.
Louisiana (14-11, 6-9 SBC) produced 129 total attempts compared to the 94 swings that Georgia Southern (19-7, 10-5 SBC) was able to manufacture. However, the Eagles' defense undermined the Ragin' Cajuns offense with a commanding 63-38 advantage in digs plus seven blocks and seven service aces.
Because of the defensive pressure by Georgia Southern, Louisiana had only 30 kills to show for its efforts. The Eagles also forced the Ragin' Cajuns into 21 attack errors and a .070 hitting percentage.
The Eagles' defensive scheme limited the Ragin' Cajuns into a single-source offense, with Marlee Ervin's 14 kills marking the only performance higher than five kills. Georgia Southern held Louisiana's chief offensive weapon Cailin Demps to three kills on a negative hitting percentage (3 K, 5 E, 25 TA).
Louisiana connected on 90 swings over the first two sets but 17 attack errors and 45 digs by Georgia Southern kept productivity low lending to a two-set deficit. Conversely, the Eagles hit .300-plus the final two stanzas after surviving a defensive slugfest in Set 1 to complete the sweep.
Paced by three early kills by Ervin, the Ragin' Cajuns took a 4-3 lead at the onset of the contest. The Eagles flipped the lead with a three-point spurt and later gained breathing room when three straight UL miscues opened a 12-8 lead.
Ervin added three more kills to keep Louisiana at arm's length for the time when a Chelsea Gilmore block and service ace cut the Eagles' lead to 19-16. Georgia Southern dialed up a timely 4-0 run and went on to grab the match lead.
The Ragin' Cajuns followed the serve of Ryleigh Garis to a 3-0 lead in Set 2 but plans of evening the contest were derailed by an 8-1 run by the Eagles. An ace from Sophia Armstrong closed the gap to 11-9 then Georgia Southern's Maggie Sale took over with two kills and a block to widen the gap to 14-9.
Boosted by five aces the Eagles raced out to a 14-4 lead in Set 3 which locked up the straight sets sweep.
Thursday's contest marked Louisiana's first appearance at Hanner Fieldhouse since the 2019 season. With the win, Georgia Southern leapt into the lead in the all-time series (now holding a 6-5 advantage).
LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Ervin's 14 kills resulted in match-high honors. It was the fifth double-digit kills performance in SBC play for the Southern Utah transfer.
Six of the 10 kills that Louisiana posted in Set 1 came off the hands of Ervin. Her opening-frame production came off of 10 error-free swings. She later came back with seven kills in Set 3 on 12 error-free swings in an attempt to will the Ragin' Cajuns back from the early deficit.
Freshman Lindsey Henry had a hand in three of the team's five blocks. She increased her team-leading total to 83 blocks (8 BS, 75 BA) ahead of one more match to finish as the first true freshman leader since 2013 (Chanelle Garnder).
Both of Gilmore's blocks were solo stuffs. She added four kills to account for seven points.
Nene Hawkins rounded up a season-high 10 digs for her first double-digit effort as a Ragin' Cajun. Libero Kennedy Gustafson followed with nine digs and fellow setter Ryleigh Garis scooped seven digs.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana plays its final match of the 2025 season on Friday, November 14 as the two-match, cross-divisional series with Georgia Southern at Hanner Fieldhouse in Statesboro, Georgia concludes.
First serve between the Ragin' Cajuns and Eagles is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. (CST) with live coverage available on ESPN+.
Louisiana looks for a season series split with Georgia Southern and to pull back even in the all-time series.
Friday's contest marks the final collegiate match for senior opposite hitter Cailin Demps. She'll look to put the finishing touches on a career-best offensive performance that's seen her accumulate 318 kills.
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.
Fans can support the volleyball student-athletes, and invest in the program's future, through The Cajuns Edge Fund (click here) to contribute directly to the Louisiana Athletics and Ragin' Cajuns Athletic Foundation's revenue-sharing initiative or by joining the Back Reaux Club (click here).
Louisiana (14-11, 6-9 SBC) produced 129 total attempts compared to the 94 swings that Georgia Southern (19-7, 10-5 SBC) was able to manufacture. However, the Eagles' defense undermined the Ragin' Cajuns offense with a commanding 63-38 advantage in digs plus seven blocks and seven service aces.
Because of the defensive pressure by Georgia Southern, Louisiana had only 30 kills to show for its efforts. The Eagles also forced the Ragin' Cajuns into 21 attack errors and a .070 hitting percentage.
The Eagles' defensive scheme limited the Ragin' Cajuns into a single-source offense, with Marlee Ervin's 14 kills marking the only performance higher than five kills. Georgia Southern held Louisiana's chief offensive weapon Cailin Demps to three kills on a negative hitting percentage (3 K, 5 E, 25 TA).
Louisiana connected on 90 swings over the first two sets but 17 attack errors and 45 digs by Georgia Southern kept productivity low lending to a two-set deficit. Conversely, the Eagles hit .300-plus the final two stanzas after surviving a defensive slugfest in Set 1 to complete the sweep.
Paced by three early kills by Ervin, the Ragin' Cajuns took a 4-3 lead at the onset of the contest. The Eagles flipped the lead with a three-point spurt and later gained breathing room when three straight UL miscues opened a 12-8 lead.
Ervin added three more kills to keep Louisiana at arm's length for the time when a Chelsea Gilmore block and service ace cut the Eagles' lead to 19-16. Georgia Southern dialed up a timely 4-0 run and went on to grab the match lead.
The Ragin' Cajuns followed the serve of Ryleigh Garis to a 3-0 lead in Set 2 but plans of evening the contest were derailed by an 8-1 run by the Eagles. An ace from Sophia Armstrong closed the gap to 11-9 then Georgia Southern's Maggie Sale took over with two kills and a block to widen the gap to 14-9.
Boosted by five aces the Eagles raced out to a 14-4 lead in Set 3 which locked up the straight sets sweep.
Thursday's contest marked Louisiana's first appearance at Hanner Fieldhouse since the 2019 season. With the win, Georgia Southern leapt into the lead in the all-time series (now holding a 6-5 advantage).
LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Ervin's 14 kills resulted in match-high honors. It was the fifth double-digit kills performance in SBC play for the Southern Utah transfer.
Six of the 10 kills that Louisiana posted in Set 1 came off the hands of Ervin. Her opening-frame production came off of 10 error-free swings. She later came back with seven kills in Set 3 on 12 error-free swings in an attempt to will the Ragin' Cajuns back from the early deficit.
Freshman Lindsey Henry had a hand in three of the team's five blocks. She increased her team-leading total to 83 blocks (8 BS, 75 BA) ahead of one more match to finish as the first true freshman leader since 2013 (Chanelle Garnder).
Both of Gilmore's blocks were solo stuffs. She added four kills to account for seven points.
Nene Hawkins rounded up a season-high 10 digs for her first double-digit effort as a Ragin' Cajun. Libero Kennedy Gustafson followed with nine digs and fellow setter Ryleigh Garis scooped seven digs.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana plays its final match of the 2025 season on Friday, November 14 as the two-match, cross-divisional series with Georgia Southern at Hanner Fieldhouse in Statesboro, Georgia concludes.
First serve between the Ragin' Cajuns and Eagles is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. (CST) with live coverage available on ESPN+.
Louisiana looks for a season series split with Georgia Southern and to pull back even in the all-time series.
Friday's contest marks the final collegiate match for senior opposite hitter Cailin Demps. She'll look to put the finishing touches on a career-best offensive performance that's seen her accumulate 318 kills.
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.
Fans can support the volleyball student-athletes, and invest in the program's future, through The Cajuns Edge Fund (click here) to contribute directly to the Louisiana Athletics and Ragin' Cajuns Athletic Foundation's revenue-sharing initiative or by joining the Back Reaux Club (click here).
- www.RaginCajuns.com -
Team Stats
UL
GS
Kills
30
39
Errors
21
14
Attempts
129
94
Hitting %
.070
.266
Points
38.0
53.0
Assists
25
39
Aces
3
7
Blocks
5.0
7.0
Game Leaders
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
4
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
3
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
3
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
L
/ VolleyballOPP
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballMB
/ Volleyball
L
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
MB
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