University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Team White Triumphs as Volleyball Kicks off Preseason Play
8/15/2026 5:54:00 PM | Volleyball
Ragin' Cajuns travel to LSU on August 22 for final tuneup
LAFAYETTE - Team White captured the decision in all three sets (25-18, 25-7, 15-13) during the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball team's annual Red and White scrimmage held on Saturday, August 15 at Earl K. Long Gym.
Newcomers Taylor Gaines and Sarah Schnell contributed seven kills apiece to lead Team White's offensive efforts. Harley Krause added four kills on nine error-free swings.
Ryleigh Garis handed out 19 assists and directed Team White's offense to a hitting percentage north of the .200-mark in each of the first two sets which helped the squad outpace Team Vermilion highlighted by the the runaway win in Set 2.
Paced by a combined 17 digs between libero Kennedy Gustafson (10 digs) and defensive specialist Sophia Armstrong (7 digs), Team White finished with a 30-27 advantage.
Marlee Ervin led Team Vermilion and all players in the scrimmage with nine kills on a .273 hitting percentage (9 K, 3 E, 22 TA). Jazmine Gaston tuned in an efficient effort at opposite hitter, scoring six kills on .333 hitting (6 K, 2 E, 12 TA).
Team Vermilion's .250 hitting percentage in Set 3 nearly got the group in the win column. Team White, though more error prone in the frame, won the kills battle with eight scores.
The two sides combined for 6.5 blocks, led by three from Gaines and two each from Lindsey Henry, Gigi Smith and Schnell.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Ragin' Cajuns conclude preseason play with a road exhibition match at LSU on Saturday, August 22 at 1:00 p.m. at the PMAC in Baton Rouge.
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Louisiana officially kicks off the program's 50th anniversary season from Saturday-Sunday, August 29-30 at the Texas State Invitational in San Marcos, Texas before opening the home slate on September 1 vs. McNeese.
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ABOUT LOUISIANA
Louisiana (15-11, 7-9 SBC) has produced a winning overall record in four of the previous five seasons with head coach Kristi Gray who is entering her sixth season leading the program in the fall of 2026.
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Last season, Louisiana displayed a balanced offense with five different players accounting for 150-plus kills and ranked Top 100 nationally and among the Top 3 in the Sun Belt Conference in kills per set (13.28) and hitting percentage (.238).
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The 18-member roster for the 2026 Louisiana Volleyball season includes 14 returners from the 2025 roster.
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The 6-2 setter duo of Ryleigh Garis and Nene Hawkins, outside hitters Marlee Ervin and Grace Sweeney and opposite hitter Jazmine Gaston, who each produced 150-plus kills, plus middle blocker Lindsey Henry who posted 88 blocks in her collegiate debut, return from a Ragin' Cajuns squad that ranked Top 3 in the SBC in offense (kills per set and hitting percentage).
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The Ragin' Cajuns continue to raise the bar in fan involvement, breaking the single-season total attendance record with 9,518 fans attending across the 13-match home slate at E.K. Long Gym in the 2025 season – the third time in four years establishing a new mark. Twice during the season, a new single-match record was set: Aug. 29 vs. Texas Southern (984) and Oct. 3 vs. App State (989).
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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.
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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.
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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).
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Newcomers Taylor Gaines and Sarah Schnell contributed seven kills apiece to lead Team White's offensive efforts. Harley Krause added four kills on nine error-free swings.
Ryleigh Garis handed out 19 assists and directed Team White's offense to a hitting percentage north of the .200-mark in each of the first two sets which helped the squad outpace Team Vermilion highlighted by the the runaway win in Set 2.
Paced by a combined 17 digs between libero Kennedy Gustafson (10 digs) and defensive specialist Sophia Armstrong (7 digs), Team White finished with a 30-27 advantage.
Marlee Ervin led Team Vermilion and all players in the scrimmage with nine kills on a .273 hitting percentage (9 K, 3 E, 22 TA). Jazmine Gaston tuned in an efficient effort at opposite hitter, scoring six kills on .333 hitting (6 K, 2 E, 12 TA).
Team Vermilion's .250 hitting percentage in Set 3 nearly got the group in the win column. Team White, though more error prone in the frame, won the kills battle with eight scores.
The two sides combined for 6.5 blocks, led by three from Gaines and two each from Lindsey Henry, Gigi Smith and Schnell.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Ragin' Cajuns conclude preseason play with a road exhibition match at LSU on Saturday, August 22 at 1:00 p.m. at the PMAC in Baton Rouge.
Â
Louisiana officially kicks off the program's 50th anniversary season from Saturday-Sunday, August 29-30 at the Texas State Invitational in San Marcos, Texas before opening the home slate on September 1 vs. McNeese.
Â
ABOUT LOUISIANA
Louisiana (15-11, 7-9 SBC) has produced a winning overall record in four of the previous five seasons with head coach Kristi Gray who is entering her sixth season leading the program in the fall of 2026.
Â
Last season, Louisiana displayed a balanced offense with five different players accounting for 150-plus kills and ranked Top 100 nationally and among the Top 3 in the Sun Belt Conference in kills per set (13.28) and hitting percentage (.238).
Â
The 18-member roster for the 2026 Louisiana Volleyball season includes 14 returners from the 2025 roster.
Â
The 6-2 setter duo of Ryleigh Garis and Nene Hawkins, outside hitters Marlee Ervin and Grace Sweeney and opposite hitter Jazmine Gaston, who each produced 150-plus kills, plus middle blocker Lindsey Henry who posted 88 blocks in her collegiate debut, return from a Ragin' Cajuns squad that ranked Top 3 in the SBC in offense (kills per set and hitting percentage).
Â
The Ragin' Cajuns continue to raise the bar in fan involvement, breaking the single-season total attendance record with 9,518 fans attending across the 13-match home slate at E.K. Long Gym in the 2025 season – the third time in four years establishing a new mark. Twice during the season, a new single-match record was set: Aug. 29 vs. Texas Southern (984) and Oct. 3 vs. App State (989).
Â
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.
Â
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.
Â
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).
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- www.RaginCajuns.com -
Players Mentioned
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