Ragin' Cajuns Make Road Debut with Trip to the Piney Woods

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Louisiana Volleyball takes to the road for the first time in the 2025 season, visiting the campus of Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, Texas for a three-day tournament from Thursday-Saturday, September 4-6 at SFA's Shelton Gym.

Louisiana (3-0) heads into the tournament following a three-match weekend sweep of the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic at home – netting the program's first opening weekend tournament sweep since 2014 and best start record-wise since 2021.

The Ragin' Cajuns start the tournament in Nacogdoches taking on host-SFA on Thursday night at 5:30 p.m., then meet Sam Houston on Friday at 7:00 p.m. and Abilene Christian on Saturday at 11:00 a.m.

UL appears in Nacogdoches for the first time since meeting the Ladyjacks in a midweek match in 2009.

Senior opposite hitter Cailin Demps, looking to build upon her first career 200-kills season, is off to a strong start after garnering 38 kills (3.2/set) on opening weekend. Junior transfer setters Ryleigh Garis and Nene Hawkins used their experience – the duo combining for 413 sets played entering the season – to direct Louisiana's offense to a .239 hitting percentage in last weekend's tournament sweep.

Louisiana Volleyball at SFA Tournament
Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 4-6 | Nacogdoches, Texas (Shelton Gym)

Thursday, Sept. 4 at SFA // Nacogdoches, Texas // 5:30 p.m.
Live Stats | Twitter Updates

Friday, Sept. 5 vs. Sam Houston // Nacogdoches, Texas // 7:00 p.m.
Live Stats | Twitter Updates

Saturday, Sept. 6 vs. Abilene Christian // Nacogdoches, Texas // 11:00 a.m.
Live Stats | Twitter Updates

SERIES HISTORY
- SFA: SFA leads, 13-4 | Last match: L, 0-3 on 9/2/2009 in Nacogdoches, Texas
Streak: SFA +12
- Sam Houston: Sam Houston leads, 14-4 | Last match: W, 3-0 on 9/1/2018 at E.K. Long Gym
Streak: UL +1
- Abilene Christian: Louisiana leads, 2-0 | Last match: W, 3-1 on 9/17/2022 in Fort Worth, Texas
Streak: UL +2

SET POINTS

Louisiana is off its first 3-0 start since Kristi Gray's inaugural season in 2021.
With a 3-0 mark in the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic, Louisiana completed its first opening weekend tournament sweep since the 2014 Adidas Rice Invitational.
The tournament at SFA starts a five-match road trip. It's the Cajuns' first appearance in Nacogdoches since 2009.
UL aims for its best since 2020 (began COVID-shortened season with an 11-0 mark).
Louisiana's 162 kills on opening weekend were the second-most recorded by a Sun Belt squad and ranked Top 50 nationally.
Charged by eight players averaging at least 1.25 kills per set, UL's offense averaged 13.5 kills per set on opening weekend.
Opposite hitters Cailin Demps and Jazmine Gaston combined to average 5.7 kills per set (63 total) in the Sawyer Camillo Classic.
Back at libero for the first time since her freshman season (2023), Kennedy Gustafson averaged 4.6 digs/set to start off 2025.
Early returns show a marked improvement in hitting percentage – UL hit .239 to start 2025 (hit .156 entire 2024 season).
Several scoring options abound, Louisiana having at least six players notch multiple kills each of the first three matches.

NUMBERS TO KNEAUX
7: Louisiana recorded seven (7) victories in five-set matches in the 2024 season.
11: The Ragin' Cajuns are welcoming 11 new members to the roster for the 2025 season.
294: Cailin Demps looks to build upon her first career 200-kills season – she recorded 294 last season.
413: UL has gained valuable experience at setter with Ryleigh Garis and Nene Hawkins having combined to play in 413 sets.

UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns close out their current five-match road trip traveling to the state of Mississippi with stops in Lorman (at Alcorn) and Oxford (at Ole Miss) from Thursday-Friday, September 11-12.

Both matches begin at 6:00 p.m. Louisiana visits Alcorn on Thursday (Sept. 11) then takes on Ole Miss on Friday (Sept. 12). The contest with the Rebels airs on SEC Network Plus (SECN+).

The Ragin' Cajuns then return home to E.K. Long Gym for the Ragin' Cajuns Classic with matches against Southern and Nicholls set for September 19-20.

FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
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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 -

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Players Mentioned

Cailin Demps

Ryleigh Garis

Jazmine Gaston

Kennedy Gustafson

Nene Hawkins

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