NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Louisiana Christian University volleyball team found it tough going in the Big Easy Blastoff, hosted by Xavier of Louisiana, to open its season, dropping a pair of 3-0 decisions to the Xavier Gold Nuggets (25-14, 25-14, 25-20) and Mobile Rams (25-21, 25-17, 25-17) Saturday afternoon at the UNO Human Performance Center.
 
Louisiana Christian 0 (14, 14, 20), Xavier Gold Nuggets 3 (25, 25, 25)
 
The Wildcats enjoyed their only leads of the match early in the second set as an Aniah Adams kill gave LCU a 1-0 lead. After Xavier tied it up at 1-1, a kill by Destinee Farris and a service ace by Adams put the Wildcats up 3-1. However, the Gold Nuggets won the next five rallies to take the lead and would not give it back up.
 
Aniah Adams turned in her first double-double of the season with ten kills and ten digs in the match. Emma Cother was credited with 23 assists in her first match as a Wildcat to lead the team. Katie Spell and Kierra Jones combined on a pair of blocks to lead the defense at the net while Spell added eight kills. Leah Stamps had 12 digs. While the two teams are both in the Red River Athletic Conference, this match did not count to conference record or standings.
 
Mobile 3 (25, 25, 25), Louisiana Christian 0 (21, 17, 17)
 
While the Wildcats strung together some runs to cut into deficits, LCU enjoyed its lone lead of the match at the start of the third set against the Rams as a Julie Bordeau kill put LCU up 1-0. Mobile scored on the next four rallies and wouldn't give up the lead for the remainder of the contest.
 
Aniah Adams led the Wildcats in kills with 11 while also getting eight digs. Emma Cother enjoyed another 20-assist match, finishing with exactly 20 assists. Leah Stamps had 13 digs while Madison Danley dug out ten opposing attacks. Kierra Jones had LCU's lone block of the match.
 
The Wildcats (0-2, 0-0 RRAC) look for their first win of the season on Friday night as RRAC play opens as Texas A&M-Texarkana comes to town. Opening serve against the Eagles (2-3, 0-0 RRAC) is set for 7:00 P.M. at H.O. West Fieldhouse.