The Book 2008-09 UL Lady Cajuns Volleyball

[Zeebart21]

_ congrats Lady Cajuns on your 3-0 win over North Texas! Good luck against Denver on Sunday. _

That is awesome news. I sense a different attitude on the VB team this year. Kick X in Denver!

Thanks for keeping us updated Wisconsincajun!

Z

[NewsCopy]

 
DENTON, Texas – A four-game losing streak ended Friday night for Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns volleyball team, as they swept the North Texas Mean Green for their first Sun Belt Conference victory by scores of 25-21, 28-26 and 25-17.

Despite the 3-0 score, North Texas was determined not to make it too easy for the Cajuns. The Mean Green almost came back from a 20-13 deficit, rallying for five straight points. Louisiana stopped the rally with a Sonora Edwards kill, followed immediately by a Kendra Hall service ace and a kill from Lesley Mirarchi to get within two points of the win. After three North Texas points, Mirarchi and Kerrilyn Lazare delivered the set’s final two kills, respectively.

The Cajuns found themselves at a 12-17 disadvantage midway through the second set, which featured 13 tie scores. They caught up during a 12-7 stretch, just in time to ensure extra points in the set with a 24-24 tie. After both teams inched up to 26 points, Mirarchi found the hardwood for a kill, before a North Texas attack error handed the Cajuns the set.

The third set saw UL grab the lead and never turn back. They finished strong, gathering an eight point lead, their largest of the night, on match point.

Head coach Heather Mazeitis earned a significant milestone with the win.

“It was my first Sun Belt win, and it felt great,” she said. “We didn’t play perfect. We had some hitting errors, but we stayed consistent, and that was the most important thing.”

Leading the offense was Mirarchi, who set her own career high in kills, with 14 against five errors in 27 attempts for a .333 hitting percentage. Amie Goodwin followed with 10 kills, her second best performance of the season, with four errors in 20 attempts, finishing at .300. Together, Mirarchi and Goodwin provided over half of the team’s kills.

Seven total blocks helped keep the pressure off the offense. Senior Elizabeth Inman posted five block assists to lead the Cajuns, while freshman Meghan Harrison made her floor time count with a career high three block assists

“The blocking was a big deal for us,” Mazeitis said. “We had so many good touches, our defense just didn’t have to work very hard.”

RaginCajuns.com

[wisconsincajun]

BTW it was the tall girl from Wisconsin that hit the match point. The player mentioned is injured. On Wisconsin - GEAUX CAJUNS! Good luck at mile high tomorrow night!

[Zeebart21]

_ BTW it was the tall girl from Wisconsin that hit the match point. The player mentioned is injured. On Wisconsin - GEAUX CAJUNS! Good luck at mile high tomorrow night! _

Whats that tall girl from Wisconsin's name again??? Just refresh our memories this morning!

PROPS TO THE TALL GIRL FROM WISCONSIN.....props to her parents as well!

Z

[wisconsincajun]

It's Meghan Harrison. Thanks Z!

[NewsCopy]

  UL – After a month-long absence from Earl K. Long Gym, the Ragin’ Cajuns volleyball team returns home with Sun Belt Conference matches against South Alabama on Friday at 5 p.m. and Troy on Saturday at 7 p.m.

The team’s extended road trip began after their first home match against Stephen F. Austin on Tuesday, Sept. 9. That match ended in a loss, but home cooking sparked the Cajuns, who won three of the next four. Overall, Louisiana has gone 4-6 since last playing at home.

Overall, the Lady Cajuns stand at 4-10, with a mark of 1-3 in the Sun Belt.

Senior Sonora Edwards leads the team into the homestand after quickly becoming the squad’s top hitter. After recovering from an offseason injury and missing seven of the first 10 matches, she leads the Cajuns in hitting percentage (.232) and is second in kills per set (1.86).

Sophomore hitter Caroline Dufrene sets the pace in kills per set at 2.00, and kills with 84. Freshman Lesley Mirarchi is second with 76, just ahead of senior Elizabeth Inman, who has registered 74. Inman has a team-best 19 service aces and 37 total blocks.

The South Alabama Jaguars bring a 7-6 overall and 1-4 conference record to Lafayette on Friday. The Ragin’ Cajuns have history on their side, with a dominant 30-8 all-time advantage over the Lady Jags. Last year, though, USA stole a 3-1 match in Mobile, Ala., in the only meeting between the two squads on Friday, Oct. 6.

The Jaguars are led by Juliana Almeida, who stands atop the statistics with 129 kills. She adds an average of 1.58 digs per set and 21 total blocks. The team’s top hitting percentage among everyday players belongs to Lindsay Schwartz, who hits at a clip of .268.

The Troy Trojans visit Lafayette Saturday defending a 9-11 overall record, and a 0-5 mark in the Sun Belt. In previous meetings, Louisiana holds a 5-3 edge. In 2007, the Cajuns dropped a 3-0 decision in Troy on Saturday, Oct. 5.

Meghan Gilroy leads all Trojans with a .302 hitting percentage and 242 kills. Emily Strader anchors the defense with 208 digs, 2.77 per set, while Aubre Smith leads the net defense with 59 total blocks, .80 per set.

Following the home weekend, the Cajuns travel to ULM on Tuesday, Oct. 14 before returning to Lafayette for a three-match homestand, the longest of the season.

RaginCajuns.com

[LSUConnMan]

I'll be there Saturday watching Troy grab their first SunBelt victory!

[RaginFan2]

_ I'll be there Saturday watching Troy grab their first SunBelt victory! _

Ain't gonna happen, TroyConnMan! Geaux Cajuns!!! But please do take lots of good pictures!

[NewsCopy]

  UL – Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns Athletic Department advises fans that due to Festival Acadiens being held at Girard Park this weekend, parking is being adjusted for Saturday’s volleyball match with Troy.

Limited parking will be available in the parking lot between Earl K. Long Gym and Billeaud Hall, beginning at 6 p.m.

Overflow parking will be available in the Student Union parking lot.

First serve for the match is set for 7 p.m.

For more information regarding parking instructions, please call 337-482-5720.

[cajunvbmom]

_ I'll be there Saturday watching Troy grab their first SunBelt victory! _

Boy, if I could be there this weekend you would see the difference between a bulldog and a volleyball mom... NONE!

Anyway... GEAUX CAJUNS! Bring the intensity to the court that you showed at North Texas. Watch the Service and Attack errors. THIS WILL BE A VICTORIOUS WEEKEND!