Ragin’ Cajuns pick up volleyball doubleheader sweep in Little Rock, move to 8-0

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Four players reached double digits in kills for the second time on Friday powering the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Volleyball team to a straight sets sweep (25-15, 25-19, 25-23) of Little Rock at the Jack Stephens Center.

With the win Louisiana (8-0, 2-0 Sun Belt) continued its undefeated start to the 2020 season and completed a doubleheader sweep of the Trojans (0-3, 0-2 Sun Belt) on the opening day of conference play.

Earlier in the day, the Ragin’ Cajuns withstood a strong offensive attack from a Little Rock squad that hit above .300, and a marathon first set that finished 37-35, to come away the victor in an exhilarating conference opener.

Kelsey Bennett’s match-high 15 kills led the quartet that landed double figures in pacing Louisiana’s offensive attack to a 47-29 advantage in kills. The defense also pressured the Trojans into a .118 hitting percentage, slowing down the hosts after a hot start to the day.

Louisiana used the combination of Bennett and Kara Barnes, who together combined for 10 kills in each of the first two sets, to open a commanding 2-0 match lead. The duo combined for three kills during a key 4-0 run in the opening frame that extended the lead to 20-13, then again at the finish line in the second set to take the score to 24-16 and put the hosts away.

Hali Wisnoskie took over the third set to help lead the way back from a 9-5 deficit. She scored eight kills in the stanza, starting with a stretch where she scored each of Louisiana’s five offensive tallies to trim the deficit to 12-11. Trailing 23-20, Wisnoskie triggered a match-ending 5-0 run with her final kill of the night and secured the final point with a service ace.

LEADING THE RAGIN’ CAJUNS
Bennett’s production marked her third outing of double digits in kills in the past four matches. Adding in 11 digs, she collected her second double-double of the day.

Wisnoskie totaled 12 kills giving her double digits for the seventh time in eight outings. The eight kills in the match-clinching set tied her season-high for an individual frame, matching the total recorded in the second set of Friday’s opener.

Kara Barnes produced 10 kills and led the squad with four blocks. Freshman Taylor Gates hit double digits for the first time in her collegiate career, also tallying 10 kills.

Hannah Ramriez scooped 16 digs to lead an effort that resulted in a 58-42 edge in the category for the Ragin’ Cajuns. Ramirez stretched her streak of consecutive matches with double-digit digs to 20 straight dating back to last Oct. 11.

One match removed from a career-high 64 assists, Avery Breaux passed out 40 helpers. She hit the 40-plus mark in a three-set match for the second time this season and posted her second effort of 13-plus assists per sets on the day.

UP NEXT
Louisiana plays the third and final match of its Sun Belt-opening series in Little Rock on Saturday with first serve set for 1 p.m. from the Jack Stephens Center. The contest will air live on ESPN+.

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