University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Saturday, September 12
Tallahassee, Fla.
12:00 p.m. (CDT)
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
3-6,0-0Sun Belt
2
vs
3
FIU
5-4,0-0CUSA
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 25 | 17 | 24 | 25 | 11 | 2 |
| FIU | 23 | 25 | 26 | 23 | 15 | 3 |
Cajuns Force Fifth Set, Fall to FIU in Tight Finish
9/12/2026 4:37:00 PM | Volleyball
Ervin, Henry and Gaines establish season highs in kills in FAMU Tournament finale
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball team forced a deciding fifth set but could not protect an early lead and saw FIU rally to claim a 3-2 (23-25, 25-17, 26-24, 23-25, 15-11) win on Saturday, September 12 at the FAMU Tournament inside the Al Lawson Center in Tallahassee, Florida.
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Louisiana (3-6) received season-high kill totals from Marlee Ervin, Lindsey Henry and Taylor Gaines, while Sarah Schnell extended her streak of double-digit kills to six matches.
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The Ragin' Cajuns overcame a five-point deficit to claim the opener and responded to consecutive set losses with a strong fourth-set performance before FIU (5-4) prevailed.
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Gaines opened the fifth set with a kill and Louisiana quickly surged ahead 3-0 in the race to 15, seemingly maintaining the upper hand over the Panthers that had existed from the onset of the fourth set. The Ragin' Cajuns remained ahead 6-4 before FIU reeled off six consecutive points to snatch away the lead.
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Consecutive Ervin kills pulled UL within 11-9, but the Panthers maintained control to finish the match.
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Ervin paced Louisiana with 12 kills, followed by Schnell with 11. Henry delivered nine kills on a .375 hitting percentage, and Gaines supplied eight kills in three sets. Harley Krause added seven kills.
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Kennedy Gustafson collected a match-high 24 digs, recording her second 20-plus dig performance of the tournament. Rhyan Miciotto posted a double-double with 28 assists and 10 digs and served two aces.
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Emily Williams led Louisiana with six blocks, including two solo stops, and Henry added five. Both teams finished with 12 blocks, while FIU held a 68-56 advantage in kills and outhit the Cajuns .241-.167.
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Lana Sesar led FIU with 24 kills and 10 digs. Jillian Huckabey added 15 kills, while Chiara Fabbrini finished with 11.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
UL erased a 15-10 deficit in the opening set with five straight points. A Schnell kill and Gustafson ace later built an 18-16 lead, and Jazmine Gaston supplied the clinching kill after FIU trimmed a 24-21 deficit to one.
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The Panthers answered by hitting .281 in the second set, building a 19-10 cushion and evening the match.
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FIU then outlasted Louisiana through 17 ties and nine lead changes in the third set. Henry's kill gave the Cajuns set point at 24-23, but the Panthers scored the final three points to take a 2-1 match lead.
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Louisiana never trailed in the fourth set, producing 16 kills and hitting .273. Schnell and Krause each recorded four kills, with Schnell delivering the final point after FIU closed within 24-23.
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UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns complete their road trip on Tuesday, September 15 in Hammond taking on Southeastern at 6:30 p.m. in the University Center. Louisiana, which defeated SLU 3-1 on Sept. 3 at E.K. Long Gym, goes for the season sweep.
Louisiana then returns home to E.K. Long Gym for the Ragin' Cajuns Classic from Thursday-Saturday, September 17-19. The Ragin' Cajuns kick off the tournament with a 6:00 p.m. battle on Thursday (Sept. 17) against Mississippi State – the first visit by an SEC squad to E.K. Long since MSU's last visit in 2006.
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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.
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).
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Louisiana (3-6) received season-high kill totals from Marlee Ervin, Lindsey Henry and Taylor Gaines, while Sarah Schnell extended her streak of double-digit kills to six matches.
Â
The Ragin' Cajuns overcame a five-point deficit to claim the opener and responded to consecutive set losses with a strong fourth-set performance before FIU (5-4) prevailed.
Â
Gaines opened the fifth set with a kill and Louisiana quickly surged ahead 3-0 in the race to 15, seemingly maintaining the upper hand over the Panthers that had existed from the onset of the fourth set. The Ragin' Cajuns remained ahead 6-4 before FIU reeled off six consecutive points to snatch away the lead.
Â
Consecutive Ervin kills pulled UL within 11-9, but the Panthers maintained control to finish the match.
Â
Ervin paced Louisiana with 12 kills, followed by Schnell with 11. Henry delivered nine kills on a .375 hitting percentage, and Gaines supplied eight kills in three sets. Harley Krause added seven kills.
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Kennedy Gustafson collected a match-high 24 digs, recording her second 20-plus dig performance of the tournament. Rhyan Miciotto posted a double-double with 28 assists and 10 digs and served two aces.
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Emily Williams led Louisiana with six blocks, including two solo stops, and Henry added five. Both teams finished with 12 blocks, while FIU held a 68-56 advantage in kills and outhit the Cajuns .241-.167.
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Lana Sesar led FIU with 24 kills and 10 digs. Jillian Huckabey added 15 kills, while Chiara Fabbrini finished with 11.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
UL erased a 15-10 deficit in the opening set with five straight points. A Schnell kill and Gustafson ace later built an 18-16 lead, and Jazmine Gaston supplied the clinching kill after FIU trimmed a 24-21 deficit to one.
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The Panthers answered by hitting .281 in the second set, building a 19-10 cushion and evening the match.
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FIU then outlasted Louisiana through 17 ties and nine lead changes in the third set. Henry's kill gave the Cajuns set point at 24-23, but the Panthers scored the final three points to take a 2-1 match lead.
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Louisiana never trailed in the fourth set, producing 16 kills and hitting .273. Schnell and Krause each recorded four kills, with Schnell delivering the final point after FIU closed within 24-23.
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UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns complete their road trip on Tuesday, September 15 in Hammond taking on Southeastern at 6:30 p.m. in the University Center. Louisiana, which defeated SLU 3-1 on Sept. 3 at E.K. Long Gym, goes for the season sweep.
Louisiana then returns home to E.K. Long Gym for the Ragin' Cajuns Classic from Thursday-Saturday, September 17-19. The Ragin' Cajuns kick off the tournament with a 6:00 p.m. battle on Thursday (Sept. 17) against Mississippi State – the first visit by an SEC squad to E.K. Long since MSU's last visit in 2006.
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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.
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).
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- www.RaginCajuns.com -
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
OPP
/ Volleyball
L
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
OPP
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballTeam Stats
LA
FIU
Kills
56
68
Errors
29
27
Attempts
162
170
Hitting %
.167
.241
Points
74.0
87.0
Assists
55
63
Aces
6
7
Blocks
12
12
Game Leaders
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
1
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