Volleyball:: Ragin’ Cajuns Storm Past Georgia State in Sun Belt Opener

LAFAYETTE – Four players contributed at least five kills and the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns volleyball team hit a season-high .325 in a straight sets sweep (25-22, 25-16, 25-11) of Georgia State in the 2016 Sun Belt Conference opener at Earl K. Long Gym.

 

After a close first set, which featured nine ties and four lead changes, the Ragin’ Cajuns (4-11, 1-0 Sun Belt) ran away with the rest of the match. Louisiana held a 25-8 edge in kills, forced the Panthers (4-8, 0-1 Sun Belt) into a negative hitting percentage and never trailed over the final two sets.

 

Louisiana completes the Sun Belt-opening weekend on Saturday hosting Georgia Southern (7-9, 0-1 Sun Belt) at 6:30 p.m. inside Earl K. Long Gym.

 

Katherine Young led the Ragin’ Cajuns with a season-high nine kills on just 13 swings. Chloe Cordell delivered eight kills, Chynna Brooks had six and Nia Antoine landed five to complete the quartet that produced five-plus kills.

 

Cordell’s production increased her season kills total to 105, marking the first time in her career she’s eclipsed 100. Young generated at least eight kills for the second consecutive outing.

 

Sydney Davis produced a match-high 11 digs to lead Louisiana. The sophomore libero served up three of the Ragin’ Cajuns eight aces.

 

Stacey Reilly joined Davis in double figure digs with 10, contributing to the team’s defensive efforts while carrying a lighter than normal load on offense (four kills).

 

The Ragin’ Cajuns played their third consecutive match without Chanelle Gardner (2.69 kills/set, 0.94 blocks/set, .369 attack pct.) who had been ruled out of this weekend’s action due to an injury incurred last Thursday at UAB.

 

Louisiana turned the tie in the opening set, erasing a 16-13 deficit with a 6-0 run, capped off by back-to-back kills from Brooks and Cordell, to take a 19-16 lead. GSU would rally to forge a 22-all tie, but the Ragin’ Cajuns regained the upper-hand after a service error and attack error. Reilly landed a kill on the next rally to give Louisiana the set.

 

Davis served the Ragin’ Cajuns into a 5-0 lead to start the second set. Louisiana would later create a comfortable cushion after three straight kills, the last two from Cordell, extended the lead to 16-9. The Panthers crept within six points, 20-14, then after a timeout a pair of kills from Antoine re-established control for the Ragin’ Cajuns.

 

Louisiana raced out to a 15-3 lead in the final frame to leave no doubt in the outcome. Leading 8-3, Cordell returned the serve to the Ragin’ Cajuns side with a kill, then served six consecutive points to move the advantage into double figures.

 

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