Volleyball: Led by Mossakowski, Cajuns Claim Senior Night Win

Box Score (PDF)

LAFAYETTE – Sparked by a match-high 15 kills from senior Sara Mossakowski and a .257 team hitting percentage the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns volleyball team ended the season on a high note with a 3-0 (25-15, 25-16, 28-26) win over Georgia State on Senior Night at Earl K. Long Gym.
 
Mossakowski closed out her collegiate career with her ninth double-digit kills performance of the season and 42nd of her career. The kills total pushed her over 800 for her career (802) and she leaves ranked Top 10 on the program’s rally scoring era list.
 
Friday’s match also marked the final outing at Earl K. Long Gym for the Cajuns’ other senior, Katey Kyle. She netted three kills and an ace in her collegiate finale.
 
The Ragin’ Cajuns (6-23, 2-14 Sun Belt) hit above .300 in the first (.367) and second (.324) set in racing out to a 2-0 lead in the match, then outlasted the Panthers (6-19, 2-13 Sun Belt) battling through 16 ties and four lead changes in the final eight rallies of the third set.
 
Louisiana recorded a 74 percent sideout rate (43-of-58), finishing above 70 percent each set. Each time GSU pulled ahead in the third set the Cajuns were able to record a sideout and fight off set point.
 
Chanelle Gardner joined Mossakowski in double digits with 11 kills on 24 swings. Nia Antoine, Keely Hayes and Nia Antoine each contributed four kills.
 
Sydney Davis collected a match-high 14 digs, reaching double figures for the 10th straight match and 21st in 29 overall this season. Mossakowski scooped 10 digs resulting in her fifth double-double of the season and 19th of her career.
 
Deidra Bohannon led the Panthers with eight kills while Kitan Ajanaku and Shae Chapman each produced seven. Gabby Serafin topped GSU in digs with 12.
 
Louisiana reached double digits in kills each set, reaching 12 each set highlighted by a match-high 15 kills in the second set victory.
 
The recipe for success in the first and second set was a carbon copy formula as each time Louisiana broke free from an early tie with a key run. A 9-2 run provided separation after a 3-all tie in the opener. Another 9-2 spurt allowed the Cajuns to break away from a 4-all tie in the second set.
 
A Mossakowski kill, Antoine block and Panthers attack error staked the Cajuns to a 7-3 lead in the final set. GSU climbed back and forged a 8-all tie, and thanks to an offense that produced 17 kills in the set was able to prevent the Cajuns from opening a lead larger than two points.
 
Trailing 24-23, a kill by Gardner pulled the Cajuns even and kept the set alive. Reilly threw down a kill for a 25-24 Cajuns lead, but an Ajanaku kill and Hayes attack error had the Panthers back in the lead 26-25.
 
Back-to-back GSU attack errors brought the momentum back to Louisiana’s side. The seesaw affair came to an end after the Panthers were ruled to be out of rotation on the ensuing serve which gave the Cajuns set and match point.
 
Friday’s match marked the 2015 season finale for the Ragin’ Cajuns. Louisiana’s win marked the sixth time in as many series meetings with Georgia State that the home team won the match (series began in 2013 with Georgia State’s entry into the Sun Belt Conference).
 
SPECIAL HONOR: Louisiana paid tribute to the late Sawyer Camillo in the post-mach senior ceremony. Camillo, who tragically passed away at her home in Argyle, Texas, on Dec. 22, 2012, would have been celebrating her senior season this year. Her parents were presented her framed jersey that had been hanging in the Earl K. Long Gym lobby the past three seasons.
 
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