University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Friday, October 2
Lafayette
6:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
7-10, 2-2SBC
3
vs
2
Arkansas State
7-8, 3-1SBC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas State | 25 | 21 | 25 | 23 | 12 | 2 |
| Louisiana | 18 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 15 | 3 |
Comeback Cajuns Block Out Arkansas State
10/2/2026 11:15:00 PM | Volleyball
Louisiana scores final six points of fourth set before dominant blocking seals five-set victory
LAFAYETTE – Facing a must-win situation to extend the match and avoid a series sweep, the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball team erased a seven-point deficit in the fourth set, then powered its fifth-set finish with six blocks to defeat Arkansas State 3-2 (18-25, 25-21, 22-25, 25-23, 15-12) on Friday, October 2 at E.K. Long Gym.
The Ragin' Cajuns (7-10, 2-2 SBC) scored the final six points of the fourth set to force the winner-take-all frame before their defense at the net completed the comeback, handing the defending SBC West and conference tournament champion Red Wolves (7-8, 3-1 SBC) their first conference loss of the season.
Louisiana trailed 20-13 in the fourth before beginning its climb toward reversing a 2-1 match deficit.
Still trailing 23-19, the Ragin' Cajuns capitalized on a setting error, then took control with Grace Sweeney serving. Rhyan Miciotto delivered a kill and Emily Williams followed with consecutive kills to pull Louisiana even. Two Arkansas State attack errors completed the rally and evened the match.
The Ragin' Cajuns rallied again from a 6-3 deficit in the fifth, with consecutive blocks involving Lindsey Henry helping erase the gap. Louisiana limited Arkansas State to a minus-.038 hitting percentage in the deciding set, recording six blocks against seven Red Wolves kills.
Henry participated in four of those blocks, including stops alongside Jazmine Gaston that broke ties at 10-all and 11-all. Williams followed the latter with a solo rejection, Sweeney added a kill for a 14-11 advantage and Gaston eventually delivered the match-clinching kill.
UL finished with advantages in blocks (13-11), aces (9-3) and digs (64-62), overcoming ASU's 65-55 edge in kills.
Sarah Schnell paced the Ragin' Cajuns with 16 kills, while Sweeney supplied 13 kills and 12 digs. Gaston added nine kills and six blocks, and Williams hit .500 with eight kills and a team-leading seven blocks. Henry matched Gaston with six blocks.
Kennedy Gustafson (17 digs and 10 assists), Miciotto (22 assists and 11 digs) and Ryleigh Garis (18 assists and 11 digs) joined Sweeney in posting a double-double. Williams, Gustafson, Garis and Sophia Armstrong each served two aces.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Arkansas State took the opening set behind 19 kills and a .567 hitting percentage.
Louisiana answered in the second, breaking an 11-all tie with three straight points and maintaining the lead. Gaston supplied five kills in the set as the Cajuns held the Red Wolves to .130 hitting.
UL rallied from down 19-15 to lead 20-19 in the third and later pulled even at 22-all, but Arkansas State scored the final three points to regain the match lead before the Cajuns mounted their decisive comeback.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns remain at E.K. Long Gym for a two-match SBC series with Louisiana Tech that's scheduled for Friday-Saturday, October 9-10.
The series, which wraps up the team's current four-match homestand, has first serve at 6:00 p.m. on Friday and 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. Both matches air on ESPN+.
Louisiana and LA Tech meet on the court for the first time since 2005 and for the first time as conferences foes since 2000, the Bulldogs last prior season in the Sun Belt Conference.
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).
The Ragin' Cajuns (7-10, 2-2 SBC) scored the final six points of the fourth set to force the winner-take-all frame before their defense at the net completed the comeback, handing the defending SBC West and conference tournament champion Red Wolves (7-8, 3-1 SBC) their first conference loss of the season.
Louisiana trailed 20-13 in the fourth before beginning its climb toward reversing a 2-1 match deficit.
Still trailing 23-19, the Ragin' Cajuns capitalized on a setting error, then took control with Grace Sweeney serving. Rhyan Miciotto delivered a kill and Emily Williams followed with consecutive kills to pull Louisiana even. Two Arkansas State attack errors completed the rally and evened the match.
The Ragin' Cajuns rallied again from a 6-3 deficit in the fifth, with consecutive blocks involving Lindsey Henry helping erase the gap. Louisiana limited Arkansas State to a minus-.038 hitting percentage in the deciding set, recording six blocks against seven Red Wolves kills.
Henry participated in four of those blocks, including stops alongside Jazmine Gaston that broke ties at 10-all and 11-all. Williams followed the latter with a solo rejection, Sweeney added a kill for a 14-11 advantage and Gaston eventually delivered the match-clinching kill.
UL finished with advantages in blocks (13-11), aces (9-3) and digs (64-62), overcoming ASU's 65-55 edge in kills.
Sarah Schnell paced the Ragin' Cajuns with 16 kills, while Sweeney supplied 13 kills and 12 digs. Gaston added nine kills and six blocks, and Williams hit .500 with eight kills and a team-leading seven blocks. Henry matched Gaston with six blocks.
Kennedy Gustafson (17 digs and 10 assists), Miciotto (22 assists and 11 digs) and Ryleigh Garis (18 assists and 11 digs) joined Sweeney in posting a double-double. Williams, Gustafson, Garis and Sophia Armstrong each served two aces.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Arkansas State took the opening set behind 19 kills and a .567 hitting percentage.
Louisiana answered in the second, breaking an 11-all tie with three straight points and maintaining the lead. Gaston supplied five kills in the set as the Cajuns held the Red Wolves to .130 hitting.
UL rallied from down 19-15 to lead 20-19 in the third and later pulled even at 22-all, but Arkansas State scored the final three points to regain the match lead before the Cajuns mounted their decisive comeback.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns remain at E.K. Long Gym for a two-match SBC series with Louisiana Tech that's scheduled for Friday-Saturday, October 9-10.
The series, which wraps up the team's current four-match homestand, has first serve at 6:00 p.m. on Friday and 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. Both matches air on ESPN+.
Louisiana and LA Tech meet on the court for the first time since 2005 and for the first time as conferences foes since 2000, the Bulldogs last prior season in the Sun Belt Conference.
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 -
Players Mentioned
L
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
OPP
/ Volleyball
L
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
OPP
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballTeam Stats
ASU
UL
Kills
65
55
Errors
28
26
Attempts
161
152
Hitting %
.230
.191
Points
79.0
77.0
Assists
64
53
Aces
3
9
Blocks
11.0
13.0
Game Leaders
Kills
16
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
6
Kills
8
Aces
2
Blocks
7
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