University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Friday, November 6
Monroe, La.
6:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
at
ULM
11/5/2026 2:14:00 PM | Volleyball
Ragin’ Cajuns control their own destiny with sights set on a first-round bye
MONROE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball team enters another Sun Belt Conference series that has conference tournament ramifications when the squad takes the court at b1Bank Fant Coliseum from Friday-Saturday, November 6-7 in Monroe, Louisiana.
UL (12-13, 7-5 SBC) is scheduled to meet ULM at 6:00 p.m. on Friday and 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. Live video coverage of both matches is available on ESPN+.
The matchup against the Warhawks (9-17, 3-9 SBC) marks the final division contests in SBC play this season – the last matches that will decide the team's final seeding for the November 19-22 conference tournament in Foley, Alabama.
Louisiana, having already qualified for the tournament, is playing for a first-round bye while in Monroe this weekend. Positive results both days enhance the chances the Ragin' Cajuns can accomplish their goal.
The Ragin' Cajuns placed themselves in a position for the first-round bye with last Saturday's five-set win over Southern Miss that was spearheaded by career-highs from Sarah Schnell (22 kills), Rhyan Miciotto (37 assists) and Sophia Armstrong (17 digs).
Schnell has been a driving force for the past two weeks, setting her career-high in kills in three of the last four outings. She's eight kills shy of giving UL a 300-kills performer for the second straight season, joining Cailin Demps (337 in 2025) as the most recent to accomplish the feat.
UL sports one of the SBC's more efficient offenses, hitting .215 in conference play. ULM counters with a defense that ranks Top 5 in league play with 15.0 digs per set, but its offense ranks last at 10.5 kills per set.
Louisiana Volleyball at ULM
Friday-Saturday, Nov. 6-7 | Monroe, La. (b1Bank Fant Coliseum)
THE MATCHUPS
Friday, Nov. 6 at ULM // b1Bank Fant Coliseum // 6:00 p.m.
ESPN+ | Live Stats | Twitter Updates
Saturday, Nov. 7 at ULM // b1Bank Fant Coliseum // 1:00 p.m.
ESPN+ | Live Stats | Twitter Updates
SERIES HISTORY
- ULM: Louisiana leads, 65-21 | Last match: W, 3-0 on 11/7/2025 at E.K. Long Gym
Sun Belt Matches: Louisiana leads, 37-5 | Current Streak: UL +16
SET POINTS
NUMBERS TO KNEAUX
2.1: UL's averaging 2.1 blocks per set using strength in numbers – with four players having accumulated 30-plus block assists.
18: Louisiana has either out-blocked or matched the opposition's block total in 18 of the 25 matches played.
6.2: Louisiana's offense is paced by the one-two punch of Lolo Lambert (3.2 k/set) and Sarah Schnell (3.0 k/set), who combined average 6.2 kills per set.
292: Sarah Schnell has made an instant impact on offense, her 292 kills far exceeding the 162 posted the previous two seasons at JMU. It's her first 200-plus kills season.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana will host Coastal Carolina at E.K. Long Gym in the final SBC two-match series of the regular season. First serve in the opener is set for 6:00 p.m. on Friday, November 13 then the teams meet in the regular-season finale on Saturday, November 14 at 2:00 p.m.
Both matches can be seen live on ESPN+.
UL is celebrating Senior Weekend during the series with the Chanticleers. The Senior Day ceremony, honoring libero Kennedy Gustafston and setters Ryleigh Garis and Nene Hawkins, takes place prior to Saturday's match.
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).
UL (12-13, 7-5 SBC) is scheduled to meet ULM at 6:00 p.m. on Friday and 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. Live video coverage of both matches is available on ESPN+.
The matchup against the Warhawks (9-17, 3-9 SBC) marks the final division contests in SBC play this season – the last matches that will decide the team's final seeding for the November 19-22 conference tournament in Foley, Alabama.
Louisiana, having already qualified for the tournament, is playing for a first-round bye while in Monroe this weekend. Positive results both days enhance the chances the Ragin' Cajuns can accomplish their goal.
The Ragin' Cajuns placed themselves in a position for the first-round bye with last Saturday's five-set win over Southern Miss that was spearheaded by career-highs from Sarah Schnell (22 kills), Rhyan Miciotto (37 assists) and Sophia Armstrong (17 digs).
Schnell has been a driving force for the past two weeks, setting her career-high in kills in three of the last four outings. She's eight kills shy of giving UL a 300-kills performer for the second straight season, joining Cailin Demps (337 in 2025) as the most recent to accomplish the feat.
UL sports one of the SBC's more efficient offenses, hitting .215 in conference play. ULM counters with a defense that ranks Top 5 in league play with 15.0 digs per set, but its offense ranks last at 10.5 kills per set.
Louisiana Volleyball at ULM
Friday-Saturday, Nov. 6-7 | Monroe, La. (b1Bank Fant Coliseum)
THE MATCHUPS
Friday, Nov. 6 at ULM // b1Bank Fant Coliseum // 6:00 p.m.
ESPN+ | Live Stats | Twitter Updates
Saturday, Nov. 7 at ULM // b1Bank Fant Coliseum // 1:00 p.m.
ESPN+ | Live Stats | Twitter Updates
SERIES HISTORY
- ULM: Louisiana leads, 65-21 | Last match: W, 3-0 on 11/7/2025 at E.K. Long Gym
Sun Belt Matches: Louisiana leads, 37-5 | Current Streak: UL +16
SET POINTS
- UL plays its final road matches and wraps up division play within the SBC this weekend in Monroe.
- With a trip to the SBC Tournament booked, the Cajuns now play to settle their seed for the event.
- UL currently holds the No. 3 seed in the SBC West which comes with a first-round SBC Tournament bye.
- The Cajuns can clinch the bye should they either better or match the weekend results of South Alabama.
- Louisiana continues its 50th anniversary season (launched as a D1 program in 1976).
- Sarah Schnell set a career-high twice in the series and accumulated 42 kills on .376 hitting vs. USM.
- Sophia Armstrong (17 digs) and Rhyan Miciotto (37 assists) had career-highs in the key win over USM.
- UL ranks Top 5 in the SBC and Top 40 nationally in total blocks (218.5).
- Emily Williams ranks fifth in the SBC in total blocks (107) and Top 40 nationally. She's on pace to challenge Cami Hicks' rally era single season record.
- The frontline defense is led by Emily Williams, the first since Cami Hicks in 2024 to reach 100 blocks.
- Lindsey Henry stands alongside on the frontline, her 80 blocks nearing her freshman season total.
- Sarah Schnell's career-high 18 kills at App State paced UL's second win over an SBC division leader.
- Louisiana's roster has several scoring options: there are nine players with 50-plus kills thus far.
- Lolo Lambert (3.2 k/s) and Sarah Schnell (3.0 k/s) are the frontrunners leading the offense. Schnell has hit double-digit kills 17 times and Lambert 14 times.
- Setters Rhyan Miciotto and Ryleigh Garis steer UL's service line efforts, having combined for 59 aces.
- Setters Rhyan Miciotto and Ryleigh Garis have led UL's 6-2 attack to a .215 hitting clip in SBC play
- At 408 season digs, Kennedy Gustafson has posted a second straight 300-plus digs season and surpassed her previous personal-best 392 from 2025.
- In contrast to 2025 when UL had 11 newcomers, this season's roster includes 14 returning players.
- Lindsey Henry, who posted 88 blocks in her debut last season, was 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
2.1: UL's averaging 2.1 blocks per set using strength in numbers – with four players having accumulated 30-plus block assists.
18: Louisiana has either out-blocked or matched the opposition's block total in 18 of the 25 matches played.
6.2: Louisiana's offense is paced by the one-two punch of Lolo Lambert (3.2 k/set) and Sarah Schnell (3.0 k/set), who combined average 6.2 kills per set.
292: Sarah Schnell has made an instant impact on offense, her 292 kills far exceeding the 162 posted the previous two seasons at JMU. It's her first 200-plus kills season.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana will host Coastal Carolina at E.K. Long Gym in the final SBC two-match series of the regular season. First serve in the opener is set for 6:00 p.m. on Friday, November 13 then the teams meet in the regular-season finale on Saturday, November 14 at 2:00 p.m.
Both matches can be seen live on ESPN+.
UL is celebrating Senior Weekend during the series with the Chanticleers. The Senior Day ceremony, honoring libero Kennedy Gustafston and setters Ryleigh Garis and Nene Hawkins, takes place prior to Saturday's match.
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
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