University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Friday, August 29
Lafayette
6:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
1-0
3
vs
0
Texas Southern
0-1
1
2
3
F
Texas Southern
18
18
18
0
Louisiana
25
25
25
3
Louisiana Sweeps Its Way to a Season-Opening Victory
8/29/2025 9:43:00 PM | Volleyball
Ragin’ Cajuns offense and serve conquers Texas Southern
LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball team showed off its many options on offense and served extremely tough in capturing a 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-18) sweep of Texas Southern in the 2025 season opener on Friday, August 29 at E.K. Long Gym.
Eight different players scored multiple kills for Louisiana (1-0) which recorded 14 kills per set and held a commanding 42-24 advantage over Texas Southern (0-1). Cailin Demps and Jazmine Gaston led the way with nine kills apiece – both needing 15 or less swings to reach the mark.
Junior transfer setter Nene Hawkins landed a career-high six aces to steer UL's efforts from the service line. The Ragin' Cajuns aced the Tigers 10 times throughout the match including three key ones that clinched the opening set.
After sewing up the first-set triumph, the Ragin' Cajuns trailed only once the rest of the way largely in part to a crisp .337 hitting percentage (42 K, 10 E, 95 TA) which overwhelmed Texas Southern.
There were seven ties and five lead changes following the first serve before Louisiana seized control. Leading 16-15, kills from Gigi Smith, Jazmine Gaston and Harley Krause all in succession created the first gap in the contest.
Krause's second kill down the stretch moved the Cajuns' advantage to 22-17 then Hawkins served up back-to-back aces to bring up set point.
A 6-1 run early in the second set helped UL flip the script and claim a 9-5 advantage, erasing the final deficit the squad would face. Later on, Chelsea Gilmore and Demps went back-to-back for kills to open a 24-17 lead and put the Tigers away.
Louisiana started the third set with back-to-back aces from Hawkins and shortly thereafter got two more aces in building a 9-5 lead. The lead swelled to 17-8 and when the Tigers made a late push, closing the deficit to 21-16, it was Gaston dashing their hopes with a kill to twice extend the margin to six points.
The Ragin' Cajuns picked up their first straight sets sweep since the 2023 season. Louisiana improved to 4-1 in season openers with Kristi Gray and remained unbeaten all-time in 10 meetings with Texas Southern.
Friday's contest closed out the opening day of the annual Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic at E.K. Long Gym. Tournament play continues Saturday at 11:00 a.m.
LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
In addition to Demps and Gaston's nine kills, the Ragin' Cajuns were charged by seven kills from Gilmore and six kills from Marlee Ervin – both needing only 12 swings.
Hawkins added 15 assists to her stellar performance from the service line. Fellow junior transfer setter Ryleigh Garis passed out 20 assists during her time running the 6-2 attack.
Gilmore had a hand in two of the three blocks that Louisiana recorded.
Kennedy Gustafson rounded up a team-leading 10 digs in her return to the libero jersey for the first time since her freshman season in 2023.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns continue play in the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic on Saturday, August 30 when they face Tarleton State at 2:00 p.m. at E.K. Long Gym.
The contest marks the first-ever meeting with the Texans in program history. It also marks a return to E.K. Long Gym for former associate head coach Jazmyne Johnson, now the head coach at Tarleton State.
Admission is free and open to the public. Available parking lots can be found on the Volleyball Match Day Parking page.
FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter (@RaginCajunsVB), Facebook (/RaginCajunsVB) or Instagram (@RaginCajunsVB) to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Louisiana Volleyball.
Fans are also encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.
Eight different players scored multiple kills for Louisiana (1-0) which recorded 14 kills per set and held a commanding 42-24 advantage over Texas Southern (0-1). Cailin Demps and Jazmine Gaston led the way with nine kills apiece – both needing 15 or less swings to reach the mark.
Junior transfer setter Nene Hawkins landed a career-high six aces to steer UL's efforts from the service line. The Ragin' Cajuns aced the Tigers 10 times throughout the match including three key ones that clinched the opening set.
After sewing up the first-set triumph, the Ragin' Cajuns trailed only once the rest of the way largely in part to a crisp .337 hitting percentage (42 K, 10 E, 95 TA) which overwhelmed Texas Southern.
There were seven ties and five lead changes following the first serve before Louisiana seized control. Leading 16-15, kills from Gigi Smith, Jazmine Gaston and Harley Krause all in succession created the first gap in the contest.
Krause's second kill down the stretch moved the Cajuns' advantage to 22-17 then Hawkins served up back-to-back aces to bring up set point.
A 6-1 run early in the second set helped UL flip the script and claim a 9-5 advantage, erasing the final deficit the squad would face. Later on, Chelsea Gilmore and Demps went back-to-back for kills to open a 24-17 lead and put the Tigers away.
Louisiana started the third set with back-to-back aces from Hawkins and shortly thereafter got two more aces in building a 9-5 lead. The lead swelled to 17-8 and when the Tigers made a late push, closing the deficit to 21-16, it was Gaston dashing their hopes with a kill to twice extend the margin to six points.
The Ragin' Cajuns picked up their first straight sets sweep since the 2023 season. Louisiana improved to 4-1 in season openers with Kristi Gray and remained unbeaten all-time in 10 meetings with Texas Southern.
Friday's contest closed out the opening day of the annual Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic at E.K. Long Gym. Tournament play continues Saturday at 11:00 a.m.
LEADING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
In addition to Demps and Gaston's nine kills, the Ragin' Cajuns were charged by seven kills from Gilmore and six kills from Marlee Ervin – both needing only 12 swings.
Hawkins added 15 assists to her stellar performance from the service line. Fellow junior transfer setter Ryleigh Garis passed out 20 assists during her time running the 6-2 attack.
Gilmore had a hand in two of the three blocks that Louisiana recorded.
Kennedy Gustafson rounded up a team-leading 10 digs in her return to the libero jersey for the first time since her freshman season in 2023.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns continue play in the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic on Saturday, August 30 when they face Tarleton State at 2:00 p.m. at E.K. Long Gym.
The contest marks the first-ever meeting with the Texans in program history. It also marks a return to E.K. Long Gym for former associate head coach Jazmyne Johnson, now the head coach at Tarleton State.
Admission is free and open to the public. Available parking lots can be found on the Volleyball Match Day Parking page.
FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter (@RaginCajunsVB), Facebook (/RaginCajunsVB) or Instagram (@RaginCajunsVB) to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Louisiana Volleyball.
Fans are also encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.
- www.RaginCajuns.com -
Team Stats
TXSO
UL
Kills
24
42
Errors
12
10
Attempts
66
95
Hitting %
.182
.337
Points
28.0
55.0
Assists
23
40
Aces
1
10
Blocks
3.0
3.0
Game Leaders
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
7
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
6
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
OPP
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballMB
/ Volleyball
L
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
MB
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