NEW ORLEANS – Aided by a late rally in the second set Tulane went on to win in straight sets (25-22, 27-25, 25-15) over the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Volleyball team on Saturday evening in the finale of the I-10 Challenge at Devlin Fieldhouse.
The Green Wave (3-0) overcame a 23-19 deficit in the second stanza, forced extra points and landed the win which opened a 2-0 match advantage.
Louisiana (2-1) was unable to extend the match as the hosts had an answer for every Ragin’ Cajuns sideout in the third set after taking a 9-7 lead, and then created distance with a five-point spurt in the latter stages.
In a battle of two teams that used similar defensive results to reach the tournament finale undefeated, the Green Wave out-blocked the Ragin’ Cajuns 12.0-10.5 and limited the visitors to a .127 hitting percentage.
LEADING THE RAGIN’ CAJUNS
For the third time in as many outings Hali Wisnoskie claimed match-high honors as she tallied 13 kills. She finished the weekend with 40 kills at an average of 4.00 kills per set.
Hanna Rovira landed nine kills off 17 swings and recorded a .471 hitting percentage. That brought her two-match total for the day to 17 kills at a .424 hitting percentage.
Dree’Ana Abram was the team’s leading blocker with five (1 BS, 4 BA) as the Ragin’ Cajuns hit double figures once again.
Avery Breaux’s 18 assists were tops in the pairing with Milayne Danna who scooped a team-best nine digs.
UP NEXT
Louisiana opens the home portion of its schedule at historic Earl K. Long Gym over Labor Day weekend, hosting the annual Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic Friday-Saturday, Aug. 31-Sept. 1. The Ragin’ Cajuns open the event on Friday facing Mississippi Valley State at 2 p.m. and Nicholls at 6:30 p.m.
For a complete list of matches visit RaginCajuns.com/SawyerCamilloClassic.
HOW IT HAPPENED
– The Green Wave made the first run in the opening set by piecing together a block, two aces and three kills for a 6-0 run that opened a 10-5 advantage. The Ragin’ Cajuns, who trailed 22-15 at one point, made a late push when back-to-back Wisnoskie kills had the squad nearing extra point territory at 24-22.
– Louisiana made the first move in the second set, using a four-point spurt to stretch its lead to 13-8. A kill from Rovira had the Cajuns at set point, 24-21, and looking at a potential tie in the match. However, the Green Wave fought off set point three times to enter extra points.
– A pair of kills helped Tulane snap the final tie (7-7) in the third set and the hosts, who sided out at 81 percent in the frame, wouldn’t relinquish the lead. Each time Louisiana cut the deficit to two points through 14-12, the Green Wave had an answer – the decisive response coming when a Markenzie Benoit kill ignited a 5-0 run that sealed the outcome.
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