University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Friday, September 25
Troy, Ala.
6:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
5-9,0-1Sun Belt
1
at
3
Troy
6-4,1-0Sun Belt
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 20 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 1 |
| Troy | 25 | 18 | 26 | 25 | 3 |
Late-Set Battles Go Troy’s Way in SBC Opener
9/25/2026 9:39:00 PM | Volleyball
Lambert delivers 22 kills as Trojans claim tightly contested third and fourth sets from Louisiana
TROY, Ala. – Lolo Lambert delivered a match-high 22 kills, but the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball team fell to Troy 3-1 (20-25, 25-18, 24-26, 23-25) on Friday, September 25 at Trojan Arena in Troy, Alabama in the Sun Belt Conference opener for both teams.
The Trojans (6-4, 1-0 SBC) outlasted the Ragin' Cajuns (5-9, 0-1 SBC) in tightly contested third and fourth sets, using a 57-48 advantage in kills to separate themselves in an otherwise evenly matched defensive battle.
The two sides battled through 14 ties and five lead changes – with no lead for either side larger than four points – before the homestanding Trojans could lock up two-point decisions in the deciding frames.
UL held an 11-10 edge in blocks, while Troy finished with a 73-72 advantage in digs. The Trojans hit .207 to the Cajuns' .200, producing the decisive kills late in both closing sets.
Lambert added 11 digs for a double-double and supplied 15 kills over the final two sets in her SBC debut. Sarah Schnell contributed 10 kills on .273 hitting.
Kennedy Gustafson collected a match-high 25 digs, leading four Ragin' Cajuns in double figures. Gustafson scooped double digits for the 12th straight match, 13th time in 14 outings, overall, and collected her third 20-plus digs effort of the season.
Rhyan Miciotto paired 29 assists with 11 digs, and Sophia Armstrong added 10 digs. Lindsey Henry paced Louisiana with six blocks, followed by Emily Williams with five. Ryleigh Garis contributed 11 assists and two aces.
Kalina Calvillo led the Trojans with 19 kills.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UL opened the match with a 4-1 lead, but Troy moved ahead during a four-point stretch midway through the first set and closed with three consecutive kills.
The Ragin' Cajuns answered by hitting .292 and recording five blocks in the second set. Louisiana broke free from a 10-all tie with a Lambert kill followed by a Garis ace and later used four straight points to build a 19-13 cushion before evening the match.
With the match lead on the line, UL erased a 23-21 deficit in the third set and fought off set point when Williams and Miciotto combined on a block for a 24-all tie. Troy escaped on consecutive kills from Isa Ruether and Olivia Kwiatkowski.
Lambert powered Louisiana with eight kills in the fourth set. The Ragin' Cajuns led 14-13 before Troy scored five straight points, then stayed within reach down the stretch. Calvillo delivered Troy's final three points on kills, sealing the match despite Louisiana pulling within 24-23.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana concludes the two-match Sun Belt Conference series in Troy, Alabama on Saturday, September 26 meeting the Troy Trojans in a 2:00 p.m. contest inside Trojan Arena. The match is available on ESPN+.
The Ragin' Cajuns seek to gain a split of the Sun Belt Opening Weekend series before returning to E.K. Long Gym for the SBC home opener with Arkansas State from Thursday-Friday, October 1-2.
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 Trojans (6-4, 1-0 SBC) outlasted the Ragin' Cajuns (5-9, 0-1 SBC) in tightly contested third and fourth sets, using a 57-48 advantage in kills to separate themselves in an otherwise evenly matched defensive battle.
The two sides battled through 14 ties and five lead changes – with no lead for either side larger than four points – before the homestanding Trojans could lock up two-point decisions in the deciding frames.
UL held an 11-10 edge in blocks, while Troy finished with a 73-72 advantage in digs. The Trojans hit .207 to the Cajuns' .200, producing the decisive kills late in both closing sets.
Lambert added 11 digs for a double-double and supplied 15 kills over the final two sets in her SBC debut. Sarah Schnell contributed 10 kills on .273 hitting.
Kennedy Gustafson collected a match-high 25 digs, leading four Ragin' Cajuns in double figures. Gustafson scooped double digits for the 12th straight match, 13th time in 14 outings, overall, and collected her third 20-plus digs effort of the season.
Rhyan Miciotto paired 29 assists with 11 digs, and Sophia Armstrong added 10 digs. Lindsey Henry paced Louisiana with six blocks, followed by Emily Williams with five. Ryleigh Garis contributed 11 assists and two aces.
Kalina Calvillo led the Trojans with 19 kills.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UL opened the match with a 4-1 lead, but Troy moved ahead during a four-point stretch midway through the first set and closed with three consecutive kills.
The Ragin' Cajuns answered by hitting .292 and recording five blocks in the second set. Louisiana broke free from a 10-all tie with a Lambert kill followed by a Garis ace and later used four straight points to build a 19-13 cushion before evening the match.
With the match lead on the line, UL erased a 23-21 deficit in the third set and fought off set point when Williams and Miciotto combined on a block for a 24-all tie. Troy escaped on consecutive kills from Isa Ruether and Olivia Kwiatkowski.
Lambert powered Louisiana with eight kills in the fourth set. The Ragin' Cajuns led 14-13 before Troy scored five straight points, then stayed within reach down the stretch. Calvillo delivered Troy's final three points on kills, sealing the match despite Louisiana pulling within 24-23.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana concludes the two-match Sun Belt Conference series in Troy, Alabama on Saturday, September 26 meeting the Troy Trojans in a 2:00 p.m. contest inside Trojan Arena. The match is available on ESPN+.
The Ragin' Cajuns seek to gain a split of the Sun Belt Opening Weekend series before returning to E.K. Long Gym for the SBC home opener with Arkansas State from Thursday-Friday, October 1-2.
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
L
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
L
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
OPP
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballTeam Stats
LA
TROY
Kills
48
57
Errors
19
23
Attempts
145
164
Hitting %
.200
.207
Points
64.0
73.0
Assists
47
54
Aces
5
6
Blocks
11
10
Game Leaders
Kills
22
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
4
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