Volleyball: Mossakowski, Ragin’ Cajuns Open Season With Win Over UTPA

Matt Sullivan, August 30, 2013

Hole, Tataran each post double-doubles in four-set victory

HOUSTON – Sara Mossakowski pounded out a career-high 15 kills and added a pair of blocks while Lavina Tataran and Andrea Hole each posted double-doubles to lead the Louisiana volleyball team to a 25-21, 25-17, 22-25, 25-19 victory over UT Pan American in the season opener on Friday at Sharp Gym.

Tonice White added 11 kills and Caitlyn Auxilien recorded 22 digs as Louisiana (1-0) won for the 20th time in 26 career matches against UTPA (0-1).

Mossakowski, who recorded a total of 18 kills last season as a freshman, was solid at the net for the Ragin’ Cajuns hitting a team-high .400 for the match (15-3-30). The Frisco, Texas native opened the match with four kills in the first set before posting five kills in the third set and four in the decisive fourth.

Tataran added a double-double for Louisiana with 12 kills and 15 digs while Hole dished out 42 assists with 15 digs. Seniors Taylor Meade and Kristen Armstrong each recorded a pair of service aces as Louisiana collected five for the match.

Diara Reynolds led UTPA with eight kills with Krysta Freitas adding seven, along with a team-high 17 digs. Nausheen Merchant added 14 digs for the Broncs while Alisha Watson had 13.

Louisiana will return to action on Saturday with a pair of matches beginning at 9:30 a.m. The Ragin’ Cajuns will face host Houston Baptist (0-1) in a 9:30 a.m. contest before wrapping up their opening weekend against Nebraska-Omaha (1-0) at 5 p.m.