Volleyball to be Televised for First Time

Volleyball 09/06/2007 Courtesy RaginCajuns.com For the first time in program history, Louisiana will play on national television.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – For the first time in the program’s 32-year history, Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns volleyball team will be televised when it faces the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks Friday night at the Fiesta Bowl Tournament.
Louisiana (1-7) will play the host Lumberjacks (2-5) Friday at 8 p.m. (CT) on Fox College Sports (FCS) Pacific. The broadcast can be seen tape delayed on Sunday, Sept. 9 at 7:30 p.m. (CT). However, FCS Pacific is not carried locally by cable providers. Fans can watch a webcast of the television broadcast – both audio and video – on the internet at www.bigskytv.org for a fee.
Live stats will be available throughout the tournament online at www.RaginCajuns.com.
UL’s tournament-opening match with Northern Arizona will feature the reunion of former and current Ragin’ Cajuns coach. UL head volleyball coach Amy Kraljev will face former UL head coach Chris Campbell, who coached from 1999-2001. Kraljev was a member of his first two teams (1999-2000) at UL. It will also be a homecoming for UL freshmen Casey Merrell (Gilbert, Ariz.) and Amie Goodwin (Tucson, Ariz.), who both hail from the state of Arizona.
The Cajuns hope to suppress their current seven-match losing skid this weekend. UL continues to be paced offensively by freshman Amie Goodwin (Tucson, Ariz.) with 98 kills – a 3.5 kill per game average. Junior Elizabeth Inman (Fort Worth, Texas) is second with 86 kills (3.07 kills per game).
Goodwin has been denied double figures just once in eight matches this season, while posting three double-doubles. Senior Erika Castro (San Antonio, Texas), who currently ranks fourth in school history with 1,224 digs, leads the Cajuns with 132 defensive digs.
Northern Arizona enters the weekend on a five-match losing streak. The Lumberjacks are led by Kim Babcock, who is averaging 4.89 kills per game. As a team, NAU is posting 13.2 kills per game to its opponents’ 15.8 per game average.
Saturday, the Cajuns will face the Duquesne Dukes (5-2) at 11 a.m. (CT), followed by the High Point Panthers (5-3) at 5:30 p.m. (CT). Duquesne, which holds a slim 1-0 series margin over the Cajuns, has won four of its last five matches. The Dukes had their four-match winning streak halted Tuesday by the Pitt Panthers 3-0.
Duquesne’s offensive numbers are very similar to that of the Cajuns. The Dukes are paced offensively by Dana McLaughlin’s 97 kills (3.23 kills per game) and Nicole Wright’s 92 kills (3.07 kills per game). Duquesne is averaging 13.43 kills per game as a team – the second-most of any team at the Fiesta Bowl Tournament.
Last season, the Dukes knocked off the Cajuns 3-1 at the Hilton Arlington/UTA Invitational in Arlington, Texas.
UL closes out the tournament with another first-time opponent – the Panthers of High Point. HPU also features a 97-kill performer in Jamie Kaufman, who is averaging 3.34 kills per game. Unlike any other team in the field, the Panthers feature two defensive players with at least 100 digs this season – Julie Hershkowitz (145) and Audie Gonzalez (107). High Point has split its last four matches after starting the season 3-1. Wednesday, the Panthers outlasted the UNC Greensboro Spartans 3-2.
Following this weekend’s trip to Arizona, Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns will travel west on I-10 to face the McNeese State Cowgirls Tuesday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m.
Previewing This Weekend’s Tournament Field
Duquesne Dukes (5-2)
Last Time Out: Duquesne snapped its four-match winning streak, losing 3-0 to cross-town rival Pittsburgh Tuesday.
Quick Hits: For the second straight season, Duquesne and Louisiana will meet on a neutral court. Last weekend, three Duquesne players earned All-Tournament Team honors at the Courtyard by Marriott Invitational in Pittsburgh – Dana McLaughlin, Jenni Gross and Amy Palko. The Dukes are paced offensively by Dana McLaughlin’s 97 kills (3.23 kills per game) Duquesne is averaging 13.43 kills per game as a team – the second-most of any team at the Fiesta Bowl Tournament.
Series History: Duquesne leads 1-0
Up Next: Duquesne travels to Bowling Green, Ohio, for the Bowling Green Invitational.
High Point Panthers (5-3)
Last Time Out: High Point outlasted the UNC Greensboro Spartans 3-2 Wednesday.
Quick Hits: HPU also features a 97-kill performer in Jamie Kaufman, who is averaging 3.34 kills per game. Unlike any other team in the field, the Panthers feature two defensive players with at least 100 digs this season – Julie Hershkowitz (145) and Audie Gonzalez (107). High Point has split its last four matches after starting the season 3-1.
Series History: First Meeting
Up Next: HPU travels to Buies Creek, N.C., to face the Campbell Camels Tuesday, Sept. 17.
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (2-5)
Last Time Out: Last weekend, NAU went 0-4 at the Hilton/Phoenix East Mesa Challenge in Tempe, Ariz. The Lumberjacks lost to Iowa State, Long Island, New Mexico and host Arizona State.
Quick Hits: The host Lumberjacks began the season with a runner-up finish at its own Hilton Garden Inn Invitational, going 2-1. Kim Babock has earned All-Tournament Team honors twice this season so far. She was named to the Hilton Garden Inn Invitational All-Tourney team after averaging 4.5 kills per game as well as 2.92 digs per game. She later earned All-Tournament Team honors last weekend at the Hilton Phoenix/East Mesa Challenge hosted by Arizona State.
Series History: First Meeting
Up Next: After this weekend’s tournament, Northern Arizona will begin Big Sky Conference play against the Montana State Bobcats on Thursday, Sept. 13.