BOONE, N.C. — The App State volleyball team returns to the Holmes Convocation Center this weekend for a two-match series against Louisiana, starting Friday at 6 p.m. and concluding Saturday at 1 p.m.
Both matches will stream live on ESPN+.
Fans who hold tickets to Thursday's home football game can present their ticket at the Southwest Entrance ticket window to receive free admission to both volleyball matches.
Friday's promotion features a "Volley in Paradise" theme, with 200 leis and sunglasses given away to early-arriving fans. Saturday's match will focus on cancer awareness, with fans encouraged to wear pink in support.
LAST TIME OUT
The Mountaineers (14-8, 7-1 SBC) return home after a sweep of James Madison in Harrisonburg, Virginia, last weekend.
Chelsea Gilmore delivered one of her strongest performances as a Mountaineer, recording 11 blocks and 19 kills across eight sets.
Molly Teague made an immediate impact in her first start of the season, posting 10 kills and five blocks against the Dukes.
Freshman Nevaeh Hays also made key contributions, tallying eight kills and seven blocks during the series.
Defensively, MeMe Davis anchored the back row with 19 digs on Thursday and 16 on Friday, while also dishing out a season-high 10 assists.
SERIES HISTORY vs. LOUISIANA
App State and Louisiana have met 18 times, with the series deadlocked at 9-9.
The Mountaineers last defeated the Ragin' Cajuns in a four-set victory on Oct. 4, 2025, after Louisiana claimed a four-set win of its own the day prior.
SCOUTING APP STATE
App State is led by juniors Davis on defense, Raegan Richardson at setter, and Bella Hutchens on offense, alongside major contributions from freshmen Hays and Amelia Mancino.
Last season, Davis anchored the back row with a team-high 467 digs, while Hutchens served as a primary threat on the outside with 244 kills.
Richardson, a transfer from South Florida, has seamlessly taken over the starting setter role, leading the offense in assists and surpassing 2,000 career assists.
Mancino has provided immediate depth and efficiency on the attack, while Hays has quickly established herself as a presence at the net with consistent scoring and blocking numbers.
SCOUTING LOUISIANA
Louisiana (10-11, 5-3 SBC) enters the weekend looking to break the all-time series tie, leaning on a balanced attack and a strong defensive back line to challenge the Mountaineers on their home court.
The Ragin' Cajuns are currently middle of the pack in the Sun Belt West Division, led by Ryleigh Garis at setter and Marlee Ervin on the attack.
Garis earned All-Louisiana second-team honors and a spot on the Sun Belt Conference Commissioner's List in 2025. She posted a team-leading 6.06 assists per set running Louisiana's 6-2 attack, guiding the unit to a sharp improvement in hitting percentage from .156 in 2024 to a .238 clip in 2025—a mark that ranked third in the conference.
Ervin competed in all 26 matches for the Ragin' Cajuns last season, earning recognition on the Sun Belt Conference Commissioner's List for her performance on the court and in the classroom.
Last season, Louisiana finished 15-11 overall with a 7-9 mark in SBC play.
ON THE HORIZON
The Mountaineers will travel to Atlanta to play Georgia State on Oct. 29 and Oct. 30. Both matches will be broadcast live on ESPN+, with live stats available at appstatesports.com.
Sport-specific giving allows you to directly support App State student-athletes and help provide them the resources they need to be successful. Click here to contribute to the Volleyball support fund.
Keep up with App State Volleyball wherever you go by following the Mountaineers on social media. Follow @appstatevb on X, Instagram and Facebook. Download the App State Athletics App for iOS or Android to keep the Mountaineers at your fingertips.
