Volleyball: Wisnoskie’s Big Night Helps Cajuns Earn Friday Split

LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Volleyball team split a pair of matches on the opening day of the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic at Earl K. Long Gym.
 
Led by four players with double digit kills, Houston Baptist (3-0) was able to outpace the Ragin’ Cajuns in a 3-1 (26-24, 25-22, 27-29, 25-20) decision. Powered by 22 kills from freshman Hali Wisnoskie (Fr., OH, Columbus,Texas), Louisiana (2-3) bounced back in the nightcap with a four-set win over Nicholls (25-22, 25-27, 25-20, 25-21).
 
HBU hit .208 and held a 63-50 edge in kills in a match in which both teams battled throughout and the largest set margin being five. Louisiana used a 17-3 edge in blocks against Nicholls to get by in a match where the hosts held a narrow 57-56 edge in kills.
 
LEADING THE RAGIN’ CAJUNS
Stacey Reilly (Sr., OH, Houston, Texas) recorded a double-double in both outings, posting a team-high 13 kills with 15 digs against HBU and 10 kills to go along with 18 digs vs. Nicholls.
 
Wisnoskie became the first Cajun to reach 20 kills this season with her outburst against the Colonels. She committed only three attack errors and hit .333 over 57 swings.
 
Dree’Ana Abram (So., MB, Marshall, Texas) continued her strong start in the front row with five blocks (0 BS, 5 BA) in the HBU match and seven blocks (3 BS, 4 BA) in the Nicholls contest.
 
Nia Antoine (Jr., MB, Lafayette, La.) totaled 20 kills over 44 swings on the day, setter Jessica Bartczyszyn (Sr., S, Cary, Ill.) dished out 40-plus assists both matches and Sydney Davis (Jr., LB, Baton Rouge, La.) scooped a season-high 25 digs against Nicholls.
 
UP NEXT
The Ragin’ Cajuns conclude play in the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Volleyball Classic on Saturday with matches against Mississippi Valley at 10 a.m. and Jacksonville State at 4 p.m. at Earl K. Long Gym
 
A complete schedule of matches, and links for live stats and live video, can be found at RaginCajuns.com/SawyerCamilloClassic.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
HOUSTON BAPTIST: Louisiana piled up its match-best total of 18 kills in taking an extended third set 29-27 to stretch the match to a fourth frame. The Ragin’ Cajuns committed eight attack errors, hit sub-zero in the fourth set and were unable to completely recover from an early deficit. The Huskies opened a 9-4 lead and later extended the advantage to 21-12. Louisiana rallied and found itself down 23-20 after an ace by Bartczyszyn, but HBU secured the point on the next two rallies to end the match.
 
NICHOLLS: The Ragin’ Cajuns and Colonels battled through 12 ties and seven lead changes in the first frame. Louisiana took an early lead in the match after kills from Antoine and Wisnoskie gave the hosts the lead for good at 21-20. The Colonels were able to overcome six Ragin’ Cajuns blocks in the second set and rallied for a 27-25 win which evened the contest. Wisnoskie took over for Louisiana over the next two sets, tallying 13 to lead the charge. Louisiana broke a 3-all tie in the fourth set with an Antoine kill and led the rest of the way. Back-to-back kills from Wisnoskie started a 5-0 Cajuns run that opened a 13-6 lead which provided enough cushion when the Colonels rallied late to trim their deficit to 22-21.
 
QUICK HITS
–  Dree’Ana Abram has posted at least three blocks in all five matches this season. The 12 blocks on Friday upped her season total to 25 and allowed her to surpass the 13 she collected her entire freshman season.
 
– As a team, Louisiana has thrown up at least six blocks each match. Team totals for Friday included nine vs. HBU and 17 vs. Nicholls.
 
– Five different Ragin’ Cajuns have already tallied 30 kills, led by 47 from senior Stacey Reilly. Joining her with 30-plus are Hali Wisnoskie (39), Nia Antoine (38), Chloe Cordell (34) and Dree’Ana Abram (30).
 
– Freshman Avery Breaux continues to impress on the back row after posting double digit digs in both matches. Breaux scooped a season-high 17 vs. HBU and 10 vs. Nicholls. She’s reached double digits in three of four appearances.
 
– Senior setter Jessica Bartczyszyn is on the verge of reach 2,000 career assists. Her 87 on Friday upped her career total to 1,965 which is the fourth-most recorded in the rallying scoring era by a Ragin’ Cajun.
 
– It’s been a week of huge leaps for freshman Hali Wisnoskie. Seeing her first extended playing time of her young collegiate career, she’s tallied 35 kills and is hitting .202 through three matches this week.
 
FOLLOW THE RAGIN’ CAJUNS
For more information on Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Volleyball, as well as all of Ragin’ Cajuns Athletics, visit RaginCajuns.com. Fans can also follow along with the team on Facebook (/ULVolleyball), Twitter (@RaginCajunsVB) and Instagram (@RaginCajunsVB).