LAFAYETTE, La. (10/2/26) – Arkansas State volleyball (7-8, 3-1 SBC) dropped a hard-fought contest at Louisiana (7-10, 2-2 SBC) via a 3-2 (25-18, 21-25, 25-22, 23-25, 12-15) decision on Friday night inside Earl K. Long Gym.
 
Kaitlin Whitlock and Parker Stearns tied for the team lead in kills with 17 apiece, a career high for the latter, while the former added 12 digs en route to her fourth consecutive double-double. Mia Maloney recorded her fourth 20-dig match of the season and Erin Madigan posted a team-high 31 assists while Stearns and Haley Glunz tallied a team-best five total blocks.
 
As a team, the Red Wolves totaled with 65 kills on a .230 attack percentage and secured 62 digs alongside 11.0 total blocks.
 
Set 1
The Red Wolves surged early in the set, as Whitlock’s three kills plus another by Stearns highlighted a 7-1 run that resulted in a four-point lead. The advantage grew over the next 17 rallies as Whitlock’s sixth kill made the score 22-15. The reigning Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week added two more beyond that point, and Addison Collum added one more to secure a 25-18 decision.
 
Set 2
The Ragin’ Cajuns broke a 10-10 tie with a kill and added four points over the next six rallies to take a 15-12 lead into the technical timeout. A-State narrowed the gap to one point multiple times, including a 19-18 deficit after Whitlock’s kill and an attack error. The comeback bid would not be enough, as Louisiana surged with five kills in the last nine rallies and evened the match via a 25-21 score.
 
Set 3
A-State held a four-point lead at the technical timeout, but an offensive surge by the Ragin’ Cajuns would create a hotly contested third set. Pairs of service aces and kills highlighted an 8-2 stretch that put the Scarlet & Black behind 20-19. Adison Ozuna stalled the momentum with a kill and Madigan landed a service ace while Whitlock capped the counter with a kill.
 
Collum snapped a 22-22 tie with another kill and Whitlock followed with the Red Wolves’ second service ace in six rallies, allowing Stearns’ 15th kill of the match to seal the set.
 
Set 4
Three consecutive attack errors paired with a kill from Whitlock and a service ace by Maloney gave A-State an early 5-0 advantage. The lead maxed out at seven points multiple times, but when the Red Wolves moved ahead 19-12 following an attack error and a bad set, Louisiana mounted a comeback bid. The opposition surged with seven of the next nine points as the lead dwindled to 21-19.
 
Errors by Louisiana extended the lead to four, but a 6-0 run resulted in a lead change and forced the match into a fifth set.
 
Set 5
A-State tied the score at 11-11 before the Ragin’ Cajuns created separation with a 3-0 run. Devyn Lewis cut the deficit to two points with a kill, but Louisiana matched it in the next rally to secure the set and the match.
 
Next Up
The Scarlet & Black return to Jonesboro to face South Alabama on Oct. 9-10. The Friday contest is slated to begin at 6 p.m. while Saturday’s match will start at 1 p.m. Both matches will stream on ESPN+, and live stats will be available at AStateRedWolves.com/stats. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here.
 
Social Media
Fans can follow the team on X (@AStateVB) and Instagram (astatevb) along with liking the Arkansas State Red Wolves Volleyball page on Facebook for the latest news and updates regarding the team.