KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Jennifer Hampton had 21 kills and Meagan Davis added 15 to lead LSU to a 30-23, 30-24, 22-30, 30-16, win over Tennessee in both team’s Southeastern Conference opener on Friday night in Knoxville, Tenn.
“This is a huge win for us. We have battled a lot of adversity this week, as has the world, and for us to be able to overcome all that and come to Tennessee and get a win on the road is huge,” said Flory. “Any win on the road in the SEC is huge.”
The victory, the biggest for head coach Fran Flory since coming to LSU, came one day after the team rode a bus for 13 hours from Baton Rouge, La., to Knoxville, Tenn. The team usually flies anywhere farther than six hours away.
“I think we became a pretty team tonight. I couldn’t be any prouder of our team.”
It is the first time since 1995 LSU (4-4, 1-0) has won its conference opener, breaking a five-year jinx. The Tigers also picked up their first win over Tennessee (4-4, 0-1 SEC), who reached the NCAA Tournament a year ago, since 1995 and first in Knoxville since 1993.
Four players, led by Hampton and Davis, finished in double-figures in kills for the Tigers. Kyra Lancon and Meghan Bedford each added 11, helping the Tigers to their highest kill total of the year, 66. LSU also had a season-high hitting percentage of .291.
“We were really balanced. At key times a lot of people stepped up,” said Flory. “Lyndsey Benson came off the bench and made some big defensive plays when we needed them. Hampton did an incredible job on offense tonight. Her offensive output was the difference in the match.”
Hampton was also the team leader on defense with 12 digs and Davis was dominant at the net with nine blocks, leading LSU to 13 as a team.
“Meagan was Meagan and she is going to be a factor in every match.”
First-team All-SEC performer Ariana Wilson led the way for the Lady Vols with 17 kills and a .452 hitting percentage. However, Wilson, who ranks third in the conference in blocks/game at 1.65, notched just two in four games of action.
“Tennessee had been blocking for a lot of success,” said Flory. “That was a concern, so we focused all week on shot selection and it paid off with us feeling confident on putting the ball away.”
Game one was close early before LSU broke an 11-11 tie with three consecutive points. The lead was five at 20-15 before the Lady Vols rallies to within two. However, they could get no closer as the Tigers closed out the game.
“If we lose game one, we lose the match in three. I don’t think we are a mature enough team to come from behind yet,” Flory noted. “We had to get a good start and get to where we control our own destiny. We have been focusing on playing from ahead and it paid off tonight.”
LSU was on fire in the game, hitting .353 compared to Tennessee’s .135. The Tigers also notched three blocks to the Lady Vols one.
Outside hitters Kyra Lancon and Hampton paced the LSU with five kills each in the game while Davis had four to go along with three blocks. Wilson’s six kills led Tennessee.
Trailing 14-12 in a closely contested second frame, the Tigers won seven of the next eight points to take a four-point lead, 19-15. LSU extended the lead to as many as seven before putting the game away.
The Lady Vols offense picked it up in game two, hitting .286, but could not catch up with LSU’s .314 clip. The Tigers recorded 18 kills to Tennessee’s 12 in the game.
Hampton and Davis were the offensive catalysts in the game, combining for 12 kills and a .688 hitting percentage. Wilson sparked Tennessee with five kills.
Looking to avoid the sweep, Tennessee dominated game three from the opening serve. After taking an 8-6 advantage, the Lady Vols went on an 11-1 run to extend the lead to 19-7 and coasted to the game win.
Kelli Scott and Janelle Hester each hit for five kills to lead the way for Tennessee, which hit .333 in the game while LSU managed to hit just .108. Putting the previous game behind them, the Tigers scored six unanswered points en route to a 14-6 lead early in game four. The lead hit double-figures at 23-13 and LSU coasted to the victory.
LSU travels to Lexington, Ky., on Sunday for a match with Kentucky at 1 p.m. CT.