Volleyball: Cajuns Service Game Lead Colonels Astray
The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball team utilized several scoring options and controlled play with its service netting a 3-0 win (25-12, 25-22, 25-15) over Nicholls in the final match of the Ragin' Cajuns Classic on Saturday, September 20 at E.K. Long Gym.
Louisiana (8-2) received at least one kill from 10 different players in totaling 39 kills on .286 hitting. The Ragin' Cajuns, who averaged 13 kills per set, more than doubled the visiting Colonels' average (6.0/set).
UL served up 13 aces in the match, disrupting any kind of flow Nicholls (10-3) was attempting to create. Through the tough serving and strong defense, the Ragin' Cajuns were able to hold the Colonels to just 18 kills and .079 hitting.
Louisiana set its season-high for aces and pressured Nicholls into its highest total number of reception errors.
The Ragin' Cajuns never trailed in Set 1 and began to break free when a Colonels service error was immediately followed by a Chelsea Gilmore kill and combo block from Gilmore and Jazmine Gaston that extended the lead to 8-4. From there UL vaulted into the match lead from the service line.
Louisiana recorded seven aces in the first set alone, starting with three during a 5-2 run that opened an 18-10 advantage and closing by earning five of the sets final six points via ace.
The Ragin' Cajuns survived pushback from the Colonels early in Set 2 where five lead changes occurred. The lead was claimed for good after a Cailin Demps kill and Ryleigh Garis ace put UL ahead 12-10.
It took a little longer to shake off the Colonels but it was eventually accomplished when Grace Sweeney fired off back-to-back kills that increased the lead to 20-17.
UL found its rhythm on offense again in Set 3 scoring six straight kills very early to take control and open a 7-2 lead. The Cajuns offense, which scored 16 kills on .400 hitting, was too much for Nicholls to handle and the straight sets sweep was secured.
The Ragin' Cajuns remained undefeated at E.K. Long Gym, moving to 5-0 on their home court with the victory.
The match was the final non-conference contest of the 2025 season. Louisiana's eight non-conference victories are its most recorded since the 2023 season (went 9-5) and the 8-2 mark continues the best start of Kristi Gray's tenure.
UL defeated Nicholls for the ninth time in the past 10 meetings and increased its all-time series lead to 60-19.
LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Demps led the charge once again scoring nine kills off of her 18 swings. The senior opposite hitter landed five kills on only six swings in the match-clinching third set.
Marlee Ervin chipped in eight kills, Sweeney tacked on seven kills and Gilmore scored five kills to support Demps in carrying the offensive load.
Four different Cajuns served up multiple aces led by libero Kennedy Gustafson's four. Ervin registered three aces while Garis and Rhyan Miciotto added two aces apiece.
Gustafson's nine digs paced a group of five Cajuns with at least five digs, leading the team to a 37-29 edge over Nicholls. She added five assists to her well-rounded performance.
Lindsey Henry's four blocks and Jazmine Gaston's three blocks led the frontline defense.
Garis handed out 19 assists during her time operating the 6-2 attack. Miciotto recorded nine assists in just her second collegiate appearance after debuting on Friday night.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Sun Belt Conference play begins when Louisiana travels to San Marcos, Texas for a two-match series against SBC West rival Texas State set for Friday-Saturday, September 26-27 at Strahan Arena.
The Ragin' Cajuns and Bobcats are scheduled to open the two-match series at 6:00 p.m. on Friday (Sept. 26) then conclude play on Saturday (Sept. 27) in a 1:00 p.m. contest. Both matches are being broadcast on ESPN+ with live stats available at CajunStats.StatBroadcast.com.
It's the second straight season UL and Texas State square off to open SBC play. Louisiana claimed at least one victory in both previous trips to San Marcos with Kristi Gray.
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