University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Thursday, October 1
Lafayette
6:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
vs
Arkansas State
Louisiana Heads into October With Season-Long Homestand
9/30/2026 3:01:00 PM | Volleyball
Ragin’ Cajuns entering four-match home stretch at E.K. Long on University’s Homecoming Weekend
LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball team returns home to E.K. Long Gym in the Hub City this weekend for its Sun Belt Conference home-opening matches against Arkansas State.
The two-match series between the Ragin' Cajuns (6-9, 1-1 SBC) and Red Wolves (6-7, 2-0 SBC) runs from Thursday-Friday, October 1-2. First serve is set for 6:00 p.m. both nights and the series opener airs on ESPN+.
The Ragin' Cajuns are celebrating Alumni Weekend, recognizing alums in attendance during Friday's contest. It's also the start of a four-match homestand for UL which entertains Louisiana Tech next weekend (Oct. 9-10).
Admission to all UL Volleyball home matches throughout the season is free and open to the public.
Louisiana is driven by its frontline defense that ranks Top 5 in the SBC at 2.4 blocks per set, led by Emily Williams (69 blocks) and Lindsey Henry (53 blocks), and the backrow efforts of libero Kennedy Gustafson (3.9 digs/set) who scooped 20-plus digs both matches of the SBC opener at Troy.
A balanced offense compliments the defensive efforts, with Lolo Lambert (155 kills) and Sarah Schnell (145 kills) leading seven different attackers who have tallied 40 kills or more.
ASU, the defending SBC West division and conference tournament champion, swept ULM to start SBC play. The Red Wolves are led by SBC Offensive Player of the Week Kaitlin Whitlock who recorded a league-leading 5.17 kills per set on .475 hitting during the first weekend of conference action.
Louisiana Volleyball hosts Arkansas State
Thursday-Friday, Oct. 1-2 | Lafayette, La. (E.K. Long Gym)
THE MATCHUPS
Thursday, Oct. 1 vs. Arkansas State // E.K. Long Gym // 6:00 p.m.
ESPN+ | Live Stats | Twitter Updates
Friday, Oct. 2 vs. Arkansas State // E.K. Long Gym // 6:00 p.m.
Live Stats | Twitter Updates
SERIES HISTORY
- Arkansas State: ASU leads, 53-26 | Last match: L, 1-3 on 11/1/2025 in Jonesboro, Ark.
Sun Belt Matches: ASU leads, 38-19 | Current Streak: ASU +4
SET POINTS
NUMBERS TO KNEAUX
2.4: UL's averaging 2.4 blocks per set using strength in numbers – four players already having reached 20-plus block assists.
7: Seven different Ragin' Cajuns have totaled 40 kills or more. Lolo Lambert and Sarah Schnell lead the way with 100-plus.
12: Louisiana has either out-blocked or matched the opposition's block total in 12 of the 15 matches so far this season.
50: Established as a D1 program in 1976, Louisiana Volleyball celebrates its 50th anniversary season in the fall of 2026.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns remain at E.K. Long Gym for a two-match SBC series with Louisiana Tech that's scheduled for Friday-Saturday, October 9-10.
The series, which wraps up a four-match homestand for Louisiana, has first serve at 6:00 p.m. on Friday and 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. Both matches air on ESPN+.
UL and LA Tech meet on the court for the first time since 2005 and for the first time as conferences foes since 2000, the Bulldogs last prior season in the Sun Belt Conference.
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 two-match series between the Ragin' Cajuns (6-9, 1-1 SBC) and Red Wolves (6-7, 2-0 SBC) runs from Thursday-Friday, October 1-2. First serve is set for 6:00 p.m. both nights and the series opener airs on ESPN+.
The Ragin' Cajuns are celebrating Alumni Weekend, recognizing alums in attendance during Friday's contest. It's also the start of a four-match homestand for UL which entertains Louisiana Tech next weekend (Oct. 9-10).
Admission to all UL Volleyball home matches throughout the season is free and open to the public.
Louisiana is driven by its frontline defense that ranks Top 5 in the SBC at 2.4 blocks per set, led by Emily Williams (69 blocks) and Lindsey Henry (53 blocks), and the backrow efforts of libero Kennedy Gustafson (3.9 digs/set) who scooped 20-plus digs both matches of the SBC opener at Troy.
A balanced offense compliments the defensive efforts, with Lolo Lambert (155 kills) and Sarah Schnell (145 kills) leading seven different attackers who have tallied 40 kills or more.
ASU, the defending SBC West division and conference tournament champion, swept ULM to start SBC play. The Red Wolves are led by SBC Offensive Player of the Week Kaitlin Whitlock who recorded a league-leading 5.17 kills per set on .475 hitting during the first weekend of conference action.
Louisiana Volleyball hosts Arkansas State
Thursday-Friday, Oct. 1-2 | Lafayette, La. (E.K. Long Gym)
THE MATCHUPS
Thursday, Oct. 1 vs. Arkansas State // E.K. Long Gym // 6:00 p.m.
ESPN+ | Live Stats | Twitter Updates
Friday, Oct. 2 vs. Arkansas State // E.K. Long Gym // 6:00 p.m.
Live Stats | Twitter Updates
SERIES HISTORY
- Arkansas State: ASU leads, 53-26 | Last match: L, 1-3 on 11/1/2025 in Jonesboro, Ark.
Sun Belt Matches: ASU leads, 38-19 | Current Streak: ASU +4
SET POINTS
- Louisiana returns to E.K. Long to begin its longest homestand of the season (overall and in SBC play).
- Starting this weekend vs. Arkansas State, the Cajuns' next four matches are on their home court.
- Louisiana continues its 50th anniversary season (launched as a D1 program in 1976).
- UL ranks Top 5 in the SBC in blocks per set (2.4).
- The Cajuns posted 26 blocks (2.9/set) in the SBC opener at Troy, totaling double digits both matches.
- Louisiana was one of only five SBC teams to post 100-plus blocks during non-conference play.
- The frontline defense is led by Emily Williams (69 blocks) and Lindsey Henry (53 blocks) who both eclipsed 40 blocks in only four weeks.
- Louisiana's roster has several scoring options: there are seven players with 40-plus kills thus far.
- Lolo Lambert (3.4 k/s) and Sarah Schnell (2.6 k/s) are the early frontrunners leading the offense Lambert has scored double-digit kills eight times.
- Marlee Ervin (2.5 k/s) and Harley Krause (2.2 k/s) add another layer to the diversity of UL's offense.
- Kennedy Gustafson crossed the 1,000-career digs milestone in the non-conference finale on Sept. 19
- Kennedy Gustafson scooped 20-plus digs twice at Troy, closing the weekend averaging 5.0 per set.
- Setter Rhyan Miciotto recorded seven double-doubles of assists and digs in September.
- With setters Rhyan Miciotto and Ryleigh Garis directing the 6-2 offense, UL has hit .200-plus the last three matches.
- Head coach Kristi Gray collected her 200th career win in the September 3 win over Southeastern.
- In contrast to 2025 when UL had 11 newcomers, this season's roster has 14 returning players.
- Marlee Ervin, Grace Sweeney and Jazmine Gaston are each coming off a 150-plus kills seasons.
- Lindsey Henry, who posted 88 blocks in her debut last season, is leading returner on the frontline.
- Libero Kennedy Gustafson ranked Top 5 in the SBC last season with a career-best 392 digs (4.17/set).
- The Ragin' Cajuns ranked Top 3 in the SBC in offense (kills per set and hitting percentage) in 2025.
NUMBERS TO KNEAUX
2.4: UL's averaging 2.4 blocks per set using strength in numbers – four players already having reached 20-plus block assists.
7: Seven different Ragin' Cajuns have totaled 40 kills or more. Lolo Lambert and Sarah Schnell lead the way with 100-plus.
12: Louisiana has either out-blocked or matched the opposition's block total in 12 of the 15 matches so far this season.
50: Established as a D1 program in 1976, Louisiana Volleyball celebrates its 50th anniversary season in the fall of 2026.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns remain at E.K. Long Gym for a two-match SBC series with Louisiana Tech that's scheduled for Friday-Saturday, October 9-10.
The series, which wraps up a four-match homestand for Louisiana, has first serve at 6:00 p.m. on Friday and 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. Both matches air on ESPN+.
UL and LA Tech meet on the court for the first time since 2005 and for the first time as conferences foes since 2000, the Bulldogs last prior season in the Sun Belt Conference.
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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