LAdy Cajuns early season record sits at 2-2 {i-camera}

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BULLDOGS, GOLDEN HURRICANE UPEND CAJUNS IN HOME DEBUT
Louisiana will face Northwestern State at Noon and Air Force at 7 p.m. Saturday

LOUISIANA La. – Louisiana’s LAdy Cajuns entered the 2004 Hibernia Bank Classic here Friday with a 2-0 record, but after day one of tournament play, their record now stands even at 2-2 after falling to Mississippi State and the University of Tulsa at Earl K. Long Gym.

In the night cap, the Golden Hurricane of Tulsa (3-0) needed four games to take the match from the Ragin’ Cajuns, 30-32, 30-14, 30-20, 31-29.

Game one saw Louisiana battle back and forth with Tulsa, finally taking it 32-30. UL had 18 kills in the first period, while Tulsa had 13. The largest lead either team held was five points, when the Cajuns were up 28-23. Tulsa rallied for five straight points to tie it 28-28.

In game two, the Cajuns attempted 34 attacks, only completing five kills. The Golden Hurricane, however, totaled 18 kills on 39 total attacks. UL Lafayette was never able to recover from an early 10-point deficit.

Earlier in the day, it was Mississippi State (2-0) handing UL Lafayette its first loss of the 2004 season and first loss in a home opener since 1996. The Bulldogs defeated the Cajuns in four sets, 30-22, 30-17, 25-30, 30-19.

In game one, Mississippi State took an early lead and never looked back. The Bulldogs led by as many as 11 points (26-15) before the Cajuns could respond. UL Lafayette scored three straight points to cut the MSU lead to 26-18. The Bulldogs then responded with three straight points of their own to extend their lead to 29-18.

Kills by Tami Harvey and Jessica Pattison, along with two Pattison blocks, trimmed the Mississippi State margin to seven points. It was too little too late as Kelly Willinger delivered the game-winning kill, giving the Bulldogs a 30-22 victory in the opening period.

Game two was much of the same for both teams. MSU committed only two attack errors, sporting a .433 attack percentage en route to a 30-17 game two victory. The Bulldogs dominated the game as the Cajuns with their passing. Jami Hester led MSU with nine kills on 15 total attacks, followed by Willinger with seven attacks and Rachel Cooper with six.

Elina Salomaki and Jessica Pattison led the Cajuns with 11 kills apiece. Six Cajuns reached double figures in digs with Hollie Girouard collecting a game-high 16.

The Cajuns were able to cut the Bulldog lead to 9-8, but Mississippi State then reeled off six straight points to pull away and take the quick 2-0 lead in the match.

Louisiana-Lafayette’s fortunes changed in game three. The Cajuns and the Bulldogs battled back and forth within a point of each other till late in the game. With the game tied 22-22, four consecutive MSU attack errors were able to generate the Cajuns’ momentum and an eventual 30-25 game three victory.

However, UL Lafayette’s momentum was short-lived. The Cajuns led 3-2 early in the fourth and ultimately deciding game. Mississippi State used a 13-6 run to squelch the Cajuns’ match rally.

Freshman setter and Dickinson, N.D., native Katelynn Stiefel made her home Ragin’ Cajuns debut in UL Lafayette’s first match of the tournament. Stiefel finished with nine assists and two total attacks.

Salomaki led the Cajuns with a double-double, finishing with 13 kills and 12 digs. Harvey led the Cajuns with 26 assists.

For the Bulldogs, Hester and Cooper both finished with a double-double. Hester had 19 kills and 15 digs, while Cooper finished with 14 kills and 10 digs. Setter Andrea Mead led all players with 48 assists.

The 2004 Hibernia Bank Classic continues Saturday. In match six, Tulsa will face Mississippi State at 10 a.m. Host Louisiana-Lafayette will face Northwestern State in match seven at noon. Mississippi State will play the United States Air Force Academy at 2 p.m. Northwestern State will face Tulsa at 5 p.m. and Louisiana-Lafayette will play Air Force in the tournament finale at 7 p.m.

LOUISIANA SI
Frontline presence Stacy Liverett prepares team for winning point in first period vs Tulsa.