Volleyball Week 2 started early in Northwest Louisiana as we had a little Los Angeles come to Natchitoches to face the Lady Demons. The PAC-12 foe didn’t push over Northwestern State. Grambling had a home match win over ULM on Tuesday. All teams were tournament-bound for the weekend. Centenary started its season by hosting the Cajun Country Classic. Grambling headed to Abilene, Texas to compete in the Abilene Christian Classic. Northwestern State flew across the country to battle in the Washington State Cougar Classic. Louisiana Tech also headed to Texas to compete in the UT-Arlington Classic.
Monday, August 28
UCLA 3, NSU 0 (25-23, 25-17, 25-22)
The Lady Demons (0-4) made it a big home opener against Pac-12 foe UCLA (2-1). NSU lost in straight sets but made it a challenge for the Bruins. The showdown was in front of a crowd of 1,232 for the noon matchup.
Teresa Garza led the Lady Demons in kills and digs with 12 and 10, respectively. Ashlyn Taylor served 4 aces. Amina Attra and Piper Boydston both had double-digit assists. Attra had 15 assists while Boydston had 13. Jordan Gamble brought the defense with 3 assisted blocks.
Tuesday, August 29
Grambling 3, ULM 2 (25-20, 16-25, 25-19, 21-25, 17-15)
It took all five sets and extra points for the Lady Tigers (1-3) to finally clip ULM (1-3) at home on Tuesday night. This was Grambling’s first win of the season.
Zyonn Smith led the Lady Tigers with 12 kills. BeNaye Kyle added 3 aces. Kai Williams and Amber Johnson each had a block. Ana Calderon and Jaida Felix set up the Lady Tigers for success with 11 assists each. Nyah Ellis kept the team in play with 19 digs.
Friday, Sept 1
Centenary 3, Millsaps 1 (25-20, 25-23, 25-27, 26-24)
The Centenary Ladies started the 2023 volleyball season with a nerve-wracking win over Millsaps in the Country Cajun Classic.
Elizabeth Canady led the Ladies with 15 kills. Meadow Smith stayed busy setting the points with 28 assists and served 3 aces in the win.
Howard Payne 3, Centenary 0 (25-17, 25-23, 25-17)
The Ladies fell to 1-1 on the season with a sweep by Howard Payne in Game 2 of the Country Cajun Classic.
Jaylin St. Martin gave the Ladies 10 kills. Meadow Smith once again was the assist leader for Centenary with 28 assists and also the digs leader with 18. Elizabeth Canady gave the Ladies 2 serving aces. Reign McArthur and Jaylin St. Martin each had 3 block assists. The
Louisiana Tech 3, Presbyterian 2 (20-25, 25-15, 22-25, 25-12, 15-6)
Louisiana Tech got back on the winning side with a five-set victory over the Presbyterian in the UTA Classic in Arlington, Texas.
Jailen Hurley led the Bulldogs in kills with 17. Ashley Taylor also had double-digit kills with 11 in the win. Lauren Albrecht helped set up points for the win with 25 assists. Grace Luevanos led the Bulldogs with 3 aces. McKenzie Johnson kept the ball alive with 15 digs. Jailen Hurley and Luisa Arauio brought the defense with 5 block assists each.
No. 17 Washington State 3, NSU 0 (25-13, 25-11, 25-11)
The Lady Demons got a taste of some top 20 action-facing host team Washington State in the Cougar Classic in Pullman, WA.
The points were lean against the Cougars but Madisynne McQueen, Reaghan Thompson, and Jordan Gamble each managed 3 kills. Piper Boydstun added 9 assists for NSU. Teresa Garza and Gamble each had an ace. Thompson had a solo block and an Assisted block. Ashlyn Svoboda dove for 6 digs.
North Dakota 3, Grambling 1 (22-25, 25-23, 25-17, 25-18)
The Grambling Lady Tigers took the first set and fell in the next three against the Fighting Hawks in the first match at the ACU Classic in Abilene, TX.
Zyonn Smith led the Lady Tigers with 11 kills. Ana Calderon contributed with 20 assists. Nyah Ellis along with Smith and Calderon each had an ace. Kenya Sykes protected the net with 2 solo blocks and an assisted block. Ellis kept the play moving with 14 digs.
Saturday, Sept 2
Texas A & M - Texarkana 3, Centenary 1 (25-23, 25-23, 18=25, 25-15)
Ladies dropped the first match of two matches on Saturday in the Country Cajun Classic at Centenary.
Elizabeth Canady gave the Ladies 10 kills in the morning matchup. Meadow Smith once again was there to set up the points with 35 assists. Kiara Leady led the Ladies with 2 aces and 16 digs. Bailee Henderson brought the “D” for the Ladies with a solo block and 3 block assists.
Centenary 3, Belhaven 0 (25-20, 25-14, 25-14)
Centenary closed out the home Country Cajun Classic with a sweep of Belhaven. Victoria Larson stepped in for the Ladies and gained 8 kills. Meadow Smith for the fourth consecutive game led the Ladies in assists with 26. Daly Nagot took the serving aces lead with 4 against Belhaven Blazers. Reign McArthur and Baille Henderson protected the net with a solo block and two block assists each. Centenary closed out the weekend 2-2 in the tournament.
Incarnate Word 3, Louisiana Tech 1 (25-16, 23-25, 25-14, 25-22)
The Bulldogs came up short in four sets to Incarnate Word Cardinals in the first match on Saturday at the UTA Classic. Sydney Jackwin gave the Bulldogs 14 kills. Lauren Albrecht added 25 assists. Ashley Taylor, Grace Kohn, and Jackwin each had a serving ace. Taylor was also protectorate of the net with a solo block and five assisted blocks. Jackwin kept the play rolling with 16 digs.
UT-Arlington 3, Louisiana Tech 0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-22)
The hosts Lady Mavericks swept Louisiana Tech’s (2-4) final match of the weekend. Sydney Jackwin and Laura Araujo each had 6 kills for LA Tech. Lauren Albrecht gave the Bulldogs 12 assists. Grace Kohn and Araujo each had a serving ace. One defense, McKenzie Johnson kept play alive with 11 digs. Ashley Taylor brought the “D” at the net with a solo block and 2 assists. Araujo also assisted at the net with 3 block assists.
Tulsa 3, NSU 0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-18)
The Lady Demons were swept in their first match on Saturday morning as they had a close first two sets against the Golden Tornado. The TG combo for the Lady Demons of Teresa Garza and Tessa Gerwig each had 10 kills. Amina Attra helped setup points with 17 assists. Ashlyn Svoboda added two aces. Reaghan Thompson was a defensive machine with 5 block assists. Garza kept the play alive with 13 digs.
Drake 3, NSU 0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-19)
NSU (0-7) left Washington without a set win in the Cougar Classic. Drake Bulldogs gave the Lady Demons a loss in the second match on Saturday. Reaghan Thompson led the Lady Demons with 7 kills. Piper Boydstun added 13 assists and two aces in the match. Alvin, TX native Teresa Garza had 6 block assists and 12 digs.
Providence 3, Grambling 1 (25-18, 20-25, 25-20, 25-20)
The Lady Tiger snuck a second set away from the Friars but came up short in their first match on Saturday in Abilene.
Zyonn Smith and Nya Blair each gave the Lady Tigers 12 kills. Ana Calderon added 17 assists and 2 aces. Adaizah Millet had a solo block and an assisted block while Neveah Scott had two assisted blocks. Nyah Ellis had 21 digs and Calderon added 20.
Abilene Christian 3, Grambling 0 (25-18, 25-23, 25-23)
The Lady Tigers (1-6) headed back to Louisiana without a win in the ACU Classic as the host team swept the final match. Nya Blair gave Grambling 10 kills. Ana Calderon led in assists and aces with 16 and 3, respectively. Kai Williams, Blair, Kennya Sykes, and Neveah Scott each had a block assist. Nyah Ellis added 10 digs for the Lady Tigers.
Next Week
NSU at Texas Southern (Tue, Sep 5, 6 pm)
Centenary v. Wiley College (Wed, Sep 6, 6 pm)
Grambling v. Little Rock (Thur, Sep 7, 12 p.m., LA Tech Tournament)
Louisiana Tech v. Lamar (Thur., Sep 7, 6 pm, LA Tech Tournament)
Grambling v Lamar (Fri, Sep 8, LA Tech Tournament)
Grambling v Louisiana Tech (Fri, Sep 8, 6 pm, Louisiana Tech Tournament)
Louisiana Tech v. Lamar (Sat, Sep 9, 11 a.m., LA Tech Tournament)
NWLA Season Leaders
Kills
Zyonn Smith, Grambling 61
Jailen Hurley, Louisiana Tech 57
Teresa Garza, NSU 47
Tessa Gerwig, NSU 45
Nya Blair, Grambling 45
Kai Williams, Grambling 45
Elizabeth Canady, Centenary 40
Reaghan Thompson, NSU 35
Courtney Carter, Louisiana Tech 34
Greace Luevanos, Louisiana Tech 32
Assists
Meadow Smith, Centenary 117
Ana Calderon, Grambling 97
Lauren Albrecht, Louisiana Tech 95
Piper Boydstun, NSU 87
Jaida Felix, Grambling 82
Amina Attra, NSU 81
Grace Krohn, Louisiana Tech 75
McKenzie Johnson, Louisiana Tech 30
Ellis Nyah, Grambling 28
Ashlyn Svoboda, NSU 17
Aces
Grace Luevanos, Louisiana Tech 10
McKenzie Johnson, Louisiana Tech 8
Lauren Albrecht, Louisiana Tech 8
Ana Calderon, Grambling 8
Izabely Benjamin, Louisiana Tech 7
Daly Nagot, Centenary 7
Meadow Smith, Centenary 6
Grace Krohn, Louisiana Tech 6
Ashlyn Svoboda, NSU 6
Kiara Leidy, Centenary 5
Solo Blocks
Jordan Gamble, NSU 5
Nevaeh Scott, Grambling 4
Ashley Taylor, Louisiana Tech 4
Reaghan Thompson, NSU 3
Kennya Sykes, Grambling 3
Elizabeth Canady, Centenary 3
Tessa Gerwig, NSU 2
Reign McArthur, Centenary 2
Bailee Henderson, Centenary 2
Eight Tied with 1
Assisted Blocks
Reaghan Thompson, NSU 27
Ashley Taylor, Louisiana Tech 20
Luisa Araujo, Louisiana Tech 17
Teresa Garza, NSU 16
Jailen Hurley, Louisiana Tech 13
Courtney Carter, Louisiana Tech 11
Reign McArthur, Centenary 9
Jordan Gamble, NSU 8
Breanna Burrell, NSU 7
Bailee Henderson, Centenary 6
Digs
Nyah Ellis, Grambling 99
McKenzie Johnson, Louisiana Tech 92
Ashlyn Svoboda, NSU 80
Zyonn Smith, Grambling 66
Kiara Leidy, Centenary 62
Teresa Garza, NSU 60
Grace Luevanos, Louisiana Tech 53
Ana Calderon, Grambling 50
Lauren Albrecht, Louisiana Tech 49
Meadow Smith, Centenary 47
Points
Zyonn Smith, Grambling 64.5
Jailen Hurley, Louisiana Tech 63.5
Teresa Garza, NSU 58
Reaghan Thompson, NSU 52.5
Tessa Gerwig, NSU 49.5
Kai Williams, Grambling, 48.5
Nya Blair, Grambling 47.5
Elizabeth Canady, Centenary 47.5
Grace Luevanos, Louisiana Tech 44
Ashley Taylor, Louisiana Tech 43
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