NEW ORLEANS — The LSU volleyball team dropped its opening match in the Sugar Bowl Classic on Friday night to host Tulane, 15-12, 15-12, 15-11 in an emotionally packed match.
The loss drops the Tigers to 2-2 on the year while Tulane, which recorded its second win of the day, improved to 5-0 on the year. It is Tulane’s first win in the series since 1996, when the Green Wave beat LSU 3-0 in New Orleans. It is the second win against LSU for Tulane head coach Betsy Becker-Ferrer as she guided her 1997 New Orleans team to a 3-1 win over the Tigers.
Kim Sentmore led three Tulane players in double-digit kills with 17 en route to a .294 attack percentage. She added a match-high 15 digs as well. As a team, the Green Wave hit .200 for the match compared to only .135 for LSU. Meagan Davis led the Tigers with nine kills as no LSU player was able to record double-digit kills.
In game one, Tulane jumped out to a 14-7 lead only to see the Tigers fight back to 14-12. However, the Green Wave survived the LSU rally to take a one game lead in the match. Tulane was able to capitalize on only eight kills and a .114 attack percentage by the Tiger offense to win the game.
Kim Sentmore recorded 11 of Tulane’s 26 kills in game two to lead the Green Wave to the 15-12 game two victory and a 2-0 lead in the match. The game went back and forth before Tulane was able to take control after a 12-12 tie. Jennifer Hampton paced the Tigers with five kills in the game while Meghan Bedford and Lauren Cuyler each had four.
LSU looked to rally as the Tigers jumped out to an 11-5 lead in game three only to see Tulane take the next 10 points for a 15-11 game win and clinch the victory.
LSU plays twice on Saturday beginning with a 10 a.m. match with New Orleans. The Tigers will take on No. 15 Wisconsin in the tournament’s final match at 6 p.m.