OXFORD, Miss. – The LSU volleyball team won its fourth consecutive match and third straight conference match on Sunday when it beat Ole Miss 15-5, 9-15, 15-1, 15-9 in Oxford, Miss.
The win improves the Tigers to 14-10 overall and 5-4 in the Southeastern Conference. LSU is now in sole possession of second place in the SEC Western Division. Ole Miss falls to 9-13 and 0-9 in the SEC.
“This was a very important win for us,” said LSU coach Fran Flory. “We had to get two wins this weekend and we did that, so that is a positive. We have some things we need to address, but the fact that we fought back today showed a lot of heart.”
LSU was sparked by Meghan Bedford offensively and defensively. She led the team with 14 kills en route to a team-high .400 hitting percentage. She tied Kelly Thompson and Meagan Davis for the team lead in blocks with five.
“Meghan Bedford has been steady throughout for us,” said Flory. “If she is in sync offensively we are going to give her the ball. We have to have one outside step up for us when we play and tonight it was Meghan Bedford.”
Along with her five kills, Thompson had 12 kills and 10 digs to record her second consecutive double-double.
The Tigers jumped all over the Rebels in the opening moments of the match. Sprinting to an 11-0 lead, LSU cruised to a game one victory. A .375 hitting percentage for LSU against Ole Miss’ .087 was the telling factor in the game.
Bedford led the team with four kills and two blocks in the game. Thompson had three of her kills.
The Rebels used a 7-0 run while trailing 9-8 in game two to knot the match at one game a piece. LSU was outhit in the game .256 to .081.
Lady Rebel Jaime Burns led al players with five kills and five digs in the game. The Tigers once again led by Bedford as she recorded three kills and two blocks.
In game three, LSU returned to the dominating form it displayed in game one in routing the Rebs. The Tigers hit .478 for the game while holding Ole Miss to a .000 hitting percentage.
Bedford’s four kills once again led LSU. Meagan Davis added three kills and two blocks in the game. Meg Norwood had three blocks, two of which were solo.
In game four, the Tigers overcame an early five-point deficit and ran off 10 unanswered points to clinch the match.
LSU returns home to face SEC West leader Arkansas on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Baton Rouge.