Volleyball: Hot Start Carries Ragin’ Cajuns To Sweep Of Arkansas State

Matt Sullivan, Asst Sports Information Director, October 6, 2013

Louisiana returns home to face South Alabama on Friday

JONESBORO, Ark. – Tonice White recorded a team-high 11 kills and the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns volleyball team got off to an impressive start to defeat Arkansas State, 25-17, 25-22, 25-19, in a Sun Belt Conference game on Sunday at the Convocation Center.

Lavinia Tataran added nine kills to lead the Ragin’ Cajuns (12-7, 2-3 Sun Belt), which opened the match with a .379 attack percentage and finished at .244 for the match. Andrea Hole added 35 assists, seven kills and seven digs for Louisiana with Kaylee Nemeth adding seven kills.

Louisiana snapped an early tie in the opening set when Nemeth and Sara Mossakowski combined to block an attempt by Sadie Clark and the Ragin’ Cajuns never trailed the rest of the set.

The Ragin’ Cajuns opened the second set with a 4-0 lead and never trailed despite Arkansas State (7-12, 3-2 Sun Belt) getting as close as 9-8 on a block by Clark and Kelsey Reis. Louisiana led 24-19 on an ace by Taylor Meade, and after the Red Wolves closed to within 24-22, Tataran gave the Ragin’ Cajuns a two-set lead with a kill.

Tataran snapped a 4-4 tie in the third set for Louisiana with a kill before Hole, Nemeth, Tataran and White each recorded kills in a 5-0 run that put the match away.

Caitlyn Auxilien led all players with 23 digs with Tataran adding 11. Freshman Chanelle Gardner posted five blocks for Louisiana with Nemeth and Mossakowski adding three each.

Clark led ASU with 12 kills with Sarah Kemp adding 10. Jackie Gerig recorded 28 assists for the Red Wolves while Megan Baska posted 19 digs.

Louisiana will return to action on Oct. 11 (Friday) when it plays host to South Alabama in a 6 p.m. contest at Earl. K. Long Gym.