Sarah Schnell’s career-high 22 kills helped Louisiana outlast Southern Miss, 3-2, after the Golden Eagles rallied from two sets down. The win snapped Louisiana’s four-match skid against Southern Miss and moved the Ragin’ Cajuns into a tie for third in the Sun Belt West, with the tiebreaker over South Alabama and a first-round tournament bye in reach.

By the Numbers
  • Louisiana won 25-20, 25-17, 20-25, 20-25, 15-12.
  • The Ragin’ Cajuns led in kills, 64-56; digs, 79-76; and aces, 5-2.
  • Schnell had 22 kills; Kennedy Gustafson recorded 23 digs, bringing her season total to 408.
  • Louisiana improved to 12-13 overall and 7-5 in conference play; Southern Miss fell to 15-8 and 6-6.
Yes, But

Louisiana built a two-set lead, but Southern Miss took the next two sets to force a deciding frame. The Cajuns responded with a five-point run after falling behind 7-6 and closed out the win with a block from Lindsey Henry and Jazmine Gaston.

State of Play
  • Louisiana is tied with South Alabama for third in the Sun Belt West and holds the tiebreaker.
  • A top-three divisional finish would earn the Cajuns a first-round bye in the conference tournament.
  • The team’s final divisional matches are next week against ULM.
What’s Next

Louisiana visits ULM for matches Friday, Nov. 6, at 6 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 7, at 1 p.m. The series will determine the Cajuns’ tournament seed; the Sun Belt tournament is scheduled for Nov. 19-22 in Foley, Alabama.

Bottom Line

Louisiana’s five-set comeback win keeps its first-round-bye hopes alive, but the final divisional series will decide its path into the conference tournament.