University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Friday, October 9
Lafayette
6:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
vs
Louisiana Tech
Louisiana Renews Series With LA Tech, Completes Homestand
10/8/2026 11:48:00 AM | Volleyball
Ragin’ Cajuns to enjoy comforts of home once more ahead of impending road stretch
LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball team is back at E.K. Long Gym this weekend for another Sun Belt Conference series, hosting in-state foe and returning league member Louisiana Tech.
The two-match series runs from Friday-Saturday, October 9-10 with first serve at 6:00 p.m. on Friday and 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. Both matches air on ESPN+.
It's the first on-court meeting between the Ragin' Cajuns (7-10, 2-2 SBC) and Bulldogs (7-11, 0-4 SBC) since the 2005 season and the first conference matchup since 2000.
The UL Volleyball program is holding its Camper Reunion on Friday, recognizing summer camp participants at intermission, while Saturday is the Dig Pink contest showing support for those who have battled breast cancer.
Admission to all UL Volleyball home matches throughout the season is free and open to the public.
Due to Festival Acadiens et Créoles, the volleyball event parking (free of charge) will be at Zone 7 (E.K. Long), Zone 8 (Dupre Library), along Hebrard Boulevard and Zone 2 (Foster/Maxim Doucet/Mouton/Stephens Halls). The gravel lot behind E.K. Long is pay-to-park ($25) for this weekend only.
Louisiana is off to a strong start in SBC play, battling SBC West frontrunners Troy and Arkansas State to a combined 18 sets total and splitting the series. The Ragin' Cajuns' success is propelled by its team blocking, which ranks No. 9 nationally in total blocks (163) and is led by Emily Williams who's 18th individually (78), and numerous scoring options led by Sarah Schnell's career-best 174 kills.
LA Tech's visit marks a Homecoming for assistant coach Cami Hicks who starred for UL from 2020-24 and set the career and single season record for blocks in the rally scoring era. Freshman middle blocker Tyra McKinnie (138 kills, 47 blocks) and libero Riley Steubing (4.6 digs/set) headline the Bulldogs' roster.
Louisiana Volleyball hosts Louisiana Tech
Friday-Saturday, Oct. 9-10 | Lafayette, La. (E.K. Long Gym)
THE MATCHUPS
Friday, Oct. 9 vs. Louisiana Tech // E.K. Long Gym // 6:00 p.m.
ESPN+ | Live Stats | Twitter Updates
Saturday, Oct. 10 vs. Louisiana Tech // E.K. Long Gym // 1:00 p.m.
ESPN+ | Live Stats | Twitter Updates
SERIES HISTORY
- Louisiana Tech: UL leads, 22-12 | Last match: L, 2-3 on 9/6/2005 in Ruston, La.
Sun Belt Matches: LATECH leads, 8-4 | Current Streak: LATECH +3
SET POINTS
NUMBERS TO KNEAUX
2.4: UL's averaging 2.4 blocks per set using strength in numbers – five players already having reached 20-plus block assists.
14: Louisiana has either out-blocked or matched the opposition's block total in 14 of the 17 matches played.
174: Sarah Schnell has made an instant impact on offense, her 174 kills surpassing the 162 posted the previous two seasons at JMU.
50: Established as a D1 program in 1976, Louisiana Volleyball celebrates its 50th anniversary season in the fall of 2026.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana spends the next two weekends on the road, traveling for SBC series at South Alabama (Oct. 16-17) and App State (Oct. 23-24).
The road swing begins October 16-17 in Mobile, Alabama with matchups against the Jaguars set for 6:00 p.m. on Friday and 1:00 p.m. on Saturday at Jaguar Gym on the USA campus. Both matches air on ESPN+.
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 two-match series runs from Friday-Saturday, October 9-10 with first serve at 6:00 p.m. on Friday and 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. Both matches air on ESPN+.
It's the first on-court meeting between the Ragin' Cajuns (7-10, 2-2 SBC) and Bulldogs (7-11, 0-4 SBC) since the 2005 season and the first conference matchup since 2000.
The UL Volleyball program is holding its Camper Reunion on Friday, recognizing summer camp participants at intermission, while Saturday is the Dig Pink contest showing support for those who have battled breast cancer.
Admission to all UL Volleyball home matches throughout the season is free and open to the public.
Due to Festival Acadiens et Créoles, the volleyball event parking (free of charge) will be at Zone 7 (E.K. Long), Zone 8 (Dupre Library), along Hebrard Boulevard and Zone 2 (Foster/Maxim Doucet/Mouton/Stephens Halls). The gravel lot behind E.K. Long is pay-to-park ($25) for this weekend only.
Louisiana is off to a strong start in SBC play, battling SBC West frontrunners Troy and Arkansas State to a combined 18 sets total and splitting the series. The Ragin' Cajuns' success is propelled by its team blocking, which ranks No. 9 nationally in total blocks (163) and is led by Emily Williams who's 18th individually (78), and numerous scoring options led by Sarah Schnell's career-best 174 kills.
LA Tech's visit marks a Homecoming for assistant coach Cami Hicks who starred for UL from 2020-24 and set the career and single season record for blocks in the rally scoring era. Freshman middle blocker Tyra McKinnie (138 kills, 47 blocks) and libero Riley Steubing (4.6 digs/set) headline the Bulldogs' roster.
Louisiana Volleyball hosts Louisiana Tech
Friday-Saturday, Oct. 9-10 | Lafayette, La. (E.K. Long Gym)
THE MATCHUPS
Friday, Oct. 9 vs. Louisiana Tech // E.K. Long Gym // 6:00 p.m.
ESPN+ | Live Stats | Twitter Updates
Saturday, Oct. 10 vs. Louisiana Tech // E.K. Long Gym // 1:00 p.m.
ESPN+ | Live Stats | Twitter Updates
SERIES HISTORY
- Louisiana Tech: UL leads, 22-12 | Last match: L, 2-3 on 9/6/2005 in Ruston, La.
Sun Belt Matches: LATECH leads, 8-4 | Current Streak: LATECH +3
SET POINTS
- Louisiana closes out its four-match homestand and plays its final home matches until Oct. 30.
- UL and LA Tech face off for the first time on court since 2005 and as conference foes since 2000.
- Louisiana continues its 50th anniversary season (launched as a D1 program in 1976).
- The series finale win over Arkansas State marked the Cajuns' second win in five sets in SBC play.
- UL tallied a combined 10 blocks in the fifth set of the wins over Troy and Arkansas State.
- UL ranks Top 5 in the SBC in blocks per set (2.4).
- The frontline defense is led by Emily Williams (78 blocks) and Lindsey Henry (62 blocks) who both eclipsed 40 blocks in only four weeks.
- The Cajuns posted 26 blocks (2.9/set) in the SBC opener at Troy, totaling double digits both matches.
- Louisiana was one of only five SBC teams to post 100-plus blocks during non-conference play.
- Emily Williams is tied for second in the SBC in total blocks (78) and Top 20 nationally. She's on pace to challenge Cami Hicks' rally era single season record.
- Louisiana's roster has several scoring options: there are nine players with 40-plus kills thus far.
- Lolo Lambert (3.4 k/s) and Sarah Schnell (2.7 k/s) are the frontrunners leading the offense. Schnell has scored double-digit kills 11 times.
- Marlee Ervin (2.5 k/s) and Harley Krause (2.0 k/s) add another layer to the diversity of UL's offense.
- Kennedy Gustafson crossed the 1,000-career digs milestone in the non-conference finale on Sept. 19.
- At 266 season digs, Kennedy Gustafson is headed for a second straight 300-plus digs season and is on pace to shatter her personal-best 392 (set in 2025).
- Setter Rhyan Miciotto recorded seven double-doubles of assists and digs in September.
- In contrast to 2025 when UL had 11 newcomers, this season's roster has 14 returning players.
- Marlee Ervin, Grace Sweeney and Jazmine Gaston are each coming off a 150-plus kills seasons.
- Lindsey Henry, who posted 88 blocks in her debut last season, is the leading returner on the frontline.
- Libero Kennedy Gustafson ranked Top 5 in the SBC last season with a career-best 392 digs (4.17/set).
NUMBERS TO KNEAUX
2.4: UL's averaging 2.4 blocks per set using strength in numbers – five players already having reached 20-plus block assists.
14: Louisiana has either out-blocked or matched the opposition's block total in 14 of the 17 matches played.
174: Sarah Schnell has made an instant impact on offense, her 174 kills surpassing the 162 posted the previous two seasons at JMU.
50: Established as a D1 program in 1976, Louisiana Volleyball celebrates its 50th anniversary season in the fall of 2026.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana spends the next two weekends on the road, traveling for SBC series at South Alabama (Oct. 16-17) and App State (Oct. 23-24).
The road swing begins October 16-17 in Mobile, Alabama with matchups against the Jaguars set for 6:00 p.m. on Friday and 1:00 p.m. on Saturday at Jaguar Gym on the USA campus. Both matches air on ESPN+.
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 -
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