University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Thursday, September 17
Lafayette
6:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
4-7
0
vs
3
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Mississippi State
8-1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi State | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
| Louisiana | 18 | 20 | 18 | 0 |
Ervin’s Night Highlights Ragin’ Cajuns Classic Opener
9/17/2026 9:53:00 PM | Volleyball
Junior outside hitter delivers 13 kills; Louisiana builds early leads before Mississippi State rallies
LAFAYETTE – Marlee Ervin delivered a season-high 13 kills and the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball team started strong at the onset, but the squad fell 3-0 to Mississippi State on Thursday, September 17 in the opening match of the Ragin' Cajuns Classic at E.K. Long Gym.
Louisiana (4-7) built early leads in the first two sets before the Bulldogs rallied for a 25-18, 25-20, 25-18 victory. Mississippi State (8-1) finished with a .262 hitting percentage and nine blocks, limiting the Cajuns to a .143 mark.
Ervin hit .407 with just two errors in 27 attempts, reaching double figures in kills for the second time in the past three matches. Harley Krause supplied nine kills in two sets, while Sarah Schnell added seven. Emily Williams and Taylor Gaines contributed four kills apiece.
Kennedy Gustafson collected a team-high 10 digs, moving within 19 of 1,000 for her collegiate career. Rhyan Miciotto totaled 16 assists and nine digs, and Ryleigh Garis finished with 10 assists and eight digs. Four Cajuns recorded two block assists each.
Bernardita Aguilar led the Bulldogs with 14 kills, Hanson totaled 34 assists and McKenna Yates collected 15 digs.
Thursday's contest marked the first visit by an SEC foe to E.K. Long Gym since MSU's last visit back in 2006.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Louisiana hit the ground running in the first set, using a four-point run capped by kills from Ervin and Schnell to take a 10-6 lead.
The advantage grew to 12-7, and the Cajuns remained ahead at 16-15 before MSU took control. UL pulled within 19-18 on an Ervin kill, but the Bulldogs scored the final six points.
Schnell supplied two early kills as Louisiana jumped ahead 4-1 in the second set. The Cajuns led 7-4 and stayed even through 10-10 before Mississippi State reeled off six straight points, including three consecutive Cayley Hanson aces. Krause posted five kills in the frame as Louisiana held a 14-11 edge in kills.
In the third, consecutive Krause kills trimmed an early deficit to 6-5 before the Bulldogs record their second 3-0 run of the early stages of the frame to stretch the lead out. MSU steadily pulled away despite four additional kills from Ervin.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana continues play in the Ragin' Cajuns Classic on Friday, September 18 at 6:00 p.m. against UT Arlington at E.K. Long Gym.
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).
Louisiana (4-7) built early leads in the first two sets before the Bulldogs rallied for a 25-18, 25-20, 25-18 victory. Mississippi State (8-1) finished with a .262 hitting percentage and nine blocks, limiting the Cajuns to a .143 mark.
Ervin hit .407 with just two errors in 27 attempts, reaching double figures in kills for the second time in the past three matches. Harley Krause supplied nine kills in two sets, while Sarah Schnell added seven. Emily Williams and Taylor Gaines contributed four kills apiece.
Kennedy Gustafson collected a team-high 10 digs, moving within 19 of 1,000 for her collegiate career. Rhyan Miciotto totaled 16 assists and nine digs, and Ryleigh Garis finished with 10 assists and eight digs. Four Cajuns recorded two block assists each.
Bernardita Aguilar led the Bulldogs with 14 kills, Hanson totaled 34 assists and McKenna Yates collected 15 digs.
Thursday's contest marked the first visit by an SEC foe to E.K. Long Gym since MSU's last visit back in 2006.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Louisiana hit the ground running in the first set, using a four-point run capped by kills from Ervin and Schnell to take a 10-6 lead.
The advantage grew to 12-7, and the Cajuns remained ahead at 16-15 before MSU took control. UL pulled within 19-18 on an Ervin kill, but the Bulldogs scored the final six points.
Schnell supplied two early kills as Louisiana jumped ahead 4-1 in the second set. The Cajuns led 7-4 and stayed even through 10-10 before Mississippi State reeled off six straight points, including three consecutive Cayley Hanson aces. Krause posted five kills in the frame as Louisiana held a 14-11 edge in kills.
In the third, consecutive Krause kills trimmed an early deficit to 6-5 before the Bulldogs record their second 3-0 run of the early stages of the frame to stretch the lead out. MSU steadily pulled away despite four additional kills from Ervin.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana continues play in the Ragin' Cajuns Classic on Friday, September 18 at 6:00 p.m. against UT Arlington at E.K. Long Gym.
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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/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
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/ Volleyball
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/ Volleyball
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/ Volleyball
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OPP
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballTeam Stats
MS
UL
Kills
41
37
Errors
14
20
Attempts
103
119
Hitting %
.262
.143
Points
56.0
42.0
Assists
39
35
Aces
6
1
Blocks
9.0
4.0
Game Leaders
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
2
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