University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Saturday, September 26
Troy, Ala.
2:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
6-9,1-1Sun Belt
3
at
2
Troy
6-5,1-1Sun Belt
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 25 | 25 | 22 | 15 | 15 | 3 |
| Troy | 22 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 8 | 2 |
Ragin’ Cajuns Regroup, Power Past Troy in Fifth Set
9/26/2026 5:40:00 PM | Volleyball
Louisiana totals 15 blocks and dominates deciding set to secure Sun Belt road win
TROY, Ala. – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball team used 15 blocks and a decisive fifth-set response to turn back Troy, 3-2 (25-22, 25-23, 22-25, 15-25, 15-8), on Saturday, September 26 at Trojan Arena in Troy, Alabama for its first Sun Belt Conference victory of the season.
The Ragin' Cajuns (6-9, 1-1 SBC) regrouped after the Trojans (6-5, 1-1 SBC) erased a two-set deficit, holding Troy to three kills and a negative-.235 hitting percentage in the final frame. Louisiana recorded four blocks in the deciding set and never trailed, quickly building an 8-2 advantage.
With the win, UL avenged the four-set loss it was dealt by Troy on Friday in SBC opener and gained a split of the weekend series. The result was a breakthrough after falling short in four previous five-set affairs.
Emily Williams totaled 11 blocks and added nine kills on .533 hitting to anchor a Louisiana effort that produced advantages in kills (60-57), hitting percentage (.202-.193) and blocks (15-12). Three Ragin' Cajuns reached double figures in kills, helping overcome Troy's 11-4 edge in service aces.
Marlee Ervin paced Louisiana with 14 kills on .293 hitting, while Grace Sweeney and Sarah Schnell supplied 13 apiece as the squad used a group effort to offset leading scorer Lolo Lambert being unavailable.
Sweeney added 11 digs for a double-double and delivered four kills on five error-free swings in the fifth set, including the match-winner.
Kennedy Gustafson led the Cajuns with 20 digs, while Rhyan Miciotto and Sophia Armstrong added 10 each. Ryleigh Garis distributed 25 assists, and Miciotto posted a double-double with 21 assists. Jazmine Gaston contributed six kills and six blocks.
Isa Ruether led Troy with 13 kills, while Haley Nash collected a match-high 22 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Louisiana hit .302 with 17 kills in the opening set, rallying from a 16-13 deficit. After the teams reached an 18-all tie, the Ragin' Cajuns scored five consecutive points, with Ervin supplying back-to-back kills, to take control.
The Ragin' Cajuns built a 16-10 cushion in the second set before Troy surged ahead 19-17. UL answered with four straight points, including two Schnell kills and one from Ervin, and finished the set on a kill by Gaston.
Troy broke a 19-all tie with three consecutive points in the third set to extend the match. The Trojans then hit .300 and served five aces in the fourth, pulling away after an early 6-all tie.
UL quickly reclaimed momentum in the fifth. Miciotto's ace helped fuel a four-point run to an 8-2 lead, and Gigi Smith teamed with Schnell for three blocks in the set. Sweeney supplied Louisiana's final two kills to seal the victory.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana hosts Arkansas State (6-7, 2-0 SBC) in the SBC home opener from Thursday-Friday, October 1-2 at E.K. Long Gym. First serve is set for 6:00 p.m. both nights and the series opener airs on ESPN+.
It'll be the first of back-to-back weekends at home inside E.K. Long Gym for UL which entertains Louisiana Tech the following weekend (October 9-10).
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 Ragin' Cajuns (6-9, 1-1 SBC) regrouped after the Trojans (6-5, 1-1 SBC) erased a two-set deficit, holding Troy to three kills and a negative-.235 hitting percentage in the final frame. Louisiana recorded four blocks in the deciding set and never trailed, quickly building an 8-2 advantage.
With the win, UL avenged the four-set loss it was dealt by Troy on Friday in SBC opener and gained a split of the weekend series. The result was a breakthrough after falling short in four previous five-set affairs.
Emily Williams totaled 11 blocks and added nine kills on .533 hitting to anchor a Louisiana effort that produced advantages in kills (60-57), hitting percentage (.202-.193) and blocks (15-12). Three Ragin' Cajuns reached double figures in kills, helping overcome Troy's 11-4 edge in service aces.
Marlee Ervin paced Louisiana with 14 kills on .293 hitting, while Grace Sweeney and Sarah Schnell supplied 13 apiece as the squad used a group effort to offset leading scorer Lolo Lambert being unavailable.
Sweeney added 11 digs for a double-double and delivered four kills on five error-free swings in the fifth set, including the match-winner.
Kennedy Gustafson led the Cajuns with 20 digs, while Rhyan Miciotto and Sophia Armstrong added 10 each. Ryleigh Garis distributed 25 assists, and Miciotto posted a double-double with 21 assists. Jazmine Gaston contributed six kills and six blocks.
Isa Ruether led Troy with 13 kills, while Haley Nash collected a match-high 22 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Louisiana hit .302 with 17 kills in the opening set, rallying from a 16-13 deficit. After the teams reached an 18-all tie, the Ragin' Cajuns scored five consecutive points, with Ervin supplying back-to-back kills, to take control.
The Ragin' Cajuns built a 16-10 cushion in the second set before Troy surged ahead 19-17. UL answered with four straight points, including two Schnell kills and one from Ervin, and finished the set on a kill by Gaston.
Troy broke a 19-all tie with three consecutive points in the third set to extend the match. The Trojans then hit .300 and served five aces in the fourth, pulling away after an early 6-all tie.
UL quickly reclaimed momentum in the fifth. Miciotto's ace helped fuel a four-point run to an 8-2 lead, and Gigi Smith teamed with Schnell for three blocks in the set. Sweeney supplied Louisiana's final two kills to seal the victory.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana hosts Arkansas State (6-7, 2-0 SBC) in the SBC home opener from Thursday-Friday, October 1-2 at E.K. Long Gym. First serve is set for 6:00 p.m. both nights and the series opener airs on ESPN+.
It'll be the first of back-to-back weekends at home inside E.K. Long Gym for UL which entertains Louisiana Tech the following weekend (October 9-10).
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
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/ Volleyball
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/ Volleyball
OPP
/ Volleyball
L
/ Volleyball
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/ Volleyball
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/ Volleyball
OPP
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballTeam Stats
LA
TROY
Kills
60
57
Errors
25
26
Attempts
173
161
Hitting %
.202
.193
Points
79.0
80.0
Assists
56
53
Aces
4
11
Blocks
15
12
Game Leaders
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
11
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