Cajuns Close Out Non-Conference Action During Return Home

LAFAYETTE – Louisiana Volleyball returns to E.K. Long Gym to host the Ragin' Cajuns Classic, featuring Southern, Nicholls and the hosting Ragin' Cajuns, on Friday, September 19 and Saturday, September 20.

UL is back at E.K. Long for the first time since Labor Day weekend. The squad is a perfect 3-0 at home, having previously swept the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic in front of an opening-weekend record 2,431 fans.

Louisiana (6-2) will first host Southern on Friday night at 6:00 p.m., then on Saturday afternoon will take on Nicholls in the tournament finale at 12:00 p.m.

Admission to all UL Volleyball home matches throughout the season is free and open to the public. Available parking lots can be found on the Volleyball Match Day Parking page.

The high energy Ragin' Cajuns offense is led by opposite hitters Cailin Demps and Jazmine Gaston who combine to average 5.8 kills per set. Louisiana ranks Top 50 nationally in hitting percentage (.262) headlined by sophomore middle blocker Chelsea Gilmore's .381 mark (52 K, 12 E, 105 TA).

Louisiana Volleyball hosts Ragin' Cajuns Classic
Friday-Saturday, Sept. 19-20 | Lafayette, La.
E.K. Long Gym

THE MATCHUPS
Friday, Sept. 19 vs. Southern // E.K. Long Gym // 6:00 p.m.
Live Stats | Twitter Updates

Saturday, Sept. 20 vs. Nicholls // E.K. Long Gym // 12:00 p.m.
Live Stats | Twitter Updates

SERIES HISTORY
- Southern: Louisiana leads, 39-8 | Last match: W, 3-1 on 9/4/2018 in Baton Rouge, La.
Streak: UL +18
- Nicholls: Louisiana leads, 59-19 | Last match: W, 3-1 on 9/14/2023 at E.K. Long Gym
Streak: UL +3

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Ragin' Cajuns Classic
Friday-Saturday, Sept. 19-20, 2025 | Lafayette, La. (E.K. Long Gym)

Friday, Sept. 19
12:00 p.m. – Southern vs. Nicholls
6:00 p.m. – Louisiana vs. Southern

Saturday, Sept. 20
12:00 p.m. – Louisiana vs. Nicholls

SET POINTS

Louisiana closes out non-conference play at home in E.K. Long Gym with the Ragin' Cajuns Classic.
UL returns home for the first time since Labor Day weekend, the squad recently going 3-2 on a five-match road swing.
The Cajuns are unbeaten at E.K. Long this season having previously posted a 3-0 mark in the Sawyer Camillo Classic.
Louisiana drew an opening-weekend record 2,431 fans (810 average) during the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic.
The 6-2 start is the best since 2020 and of Kristi Gray's tenure.
The win at Alcorn clinched a winning non-conference record, the fourth occurrence in five seasons with Kristi Gray.
Cailin Demps tallied a team-leading 18 kills last week to clinch her fourth consecutive 100-kills campaign (currently at 105 kills).
Cailin Demps stole the show in the visit to SFA's tournament, posting 49 kills (4.1/set) while hitting .340 over 100 swings.
Chelsea Gilmore ranks Top 5 in the Sun Belt hitting .381. She's scored a kill on nearly half of her swings (52 kills off 105 attempts).
UL hit a season-high .423 at Alcorn marking the fourth time finishing a match above the .300 mark.
Early returns have shown a marked improvement in hitting percentage – UL's off to a .262 in 2025 (hit .156 entire 2024 season).
Charged by eight players averaging at least 1.25 kills per set, UL's offense averaged 13.5 kills per set on opening weekend.

NUMBERS TO KNEAUX
7-1: Louisiana started with the match lead the first six outings. The team enters the week with a 7-1 mark in Set 1.
25: Freshman Lindsey Henry leads the frontline defensive efforts with a team-high 25 blocks. She surged ahead following 17 blocks at the SFA Tournament.
140: Opposite hitters Cailin Demps and Jazmine Gaston are leading the charge offensively, having combined for 170 kills (5.8/set).
413: UL entered the season with valuable experience at setter, junior transfers Ryleigh Garis and Nene Hawkins having combined to play in 413 sets.

UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Sun Belt Conference play arrives when Louisiana travels to San Marcos, Texas for a two-match series against SBC West rival Texas State set for Friday-Saturday, September 26-27 at Strahan Arena.

The Ragin' Cajuns and Bobcats are scheduled to open the two-match series at 6:00 p.m. on Friday (Sept. 26) then conclude play on Saturday (Sept. 27) in a 1:00 p.m. contest. Both matches are being broadcast on ESPN+ with live stats available at CajunStats.StatBroadcast.com.

It's the second straight season UL and Texas State square off to open SBC play. Louisiana claimed at least one victory in both previous trips to San Marcos with Kristi Gray.

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 -

Cajuns Close Out Non-Conference Action During Return Home

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Cailin Demps

Ryleigh Garis

Jazmine Gaston

Chelsea Gilmore

Nene Hawkins

Lindsey Henry

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University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics

Cajuns Close Out Non-Conference Action During Return Home

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Cailin Demps

Ryleigh Garis

Jazmine Gaston

Chelsea Gilmore

Nene Hawkins

Lindsey Henry

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