The LSU volleyball team looks to get back on track on Friday when it plays host to Southeastern Conference Western Division Rival Ole Miss at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center at 7 p.m.
The Tigers (10-6, 5-2 SEC) had their six-match win streak snapped on Sunday with a 3-1 loss to 19th-ranked South Carolina. Ole Miss (5-12, 1-6) has dropped five of its last six matches, including a 3-0 defeat at the hands of LSU earlier this month.
“This is a match where we need to focus on our side of the net and control what we can,” said LSU coach Fran Flory. “Ole Miss is always a very competitive team that plays very well together.”
At the halfway point of the SEC schedule, the Tigers trail Arkansas by two games for the West division lead. Ole Miss is tied for fourth in the division with Mississippi State, which LSU faces on Sunday.
“I feel like we have played well enough up to this point to be in the hunt for the SEC West title,” Flory added. “But, we still need to take things one match at a time and improve every time we touch the court.”
Leading LSU into action will be outside hitters Jennifer Hampton and Kyra Lancon, who rank seventh and eighth in the league in kills/game, respectively. Lancon’s, only a freshman, hits for 3.67 kills/game and a .245 hitting percentage against conference foes.
Hampton is averaging 3.56 kills/game to go along with her 3.28 digs/game, which is third best in the league. She is one of just three players to be in the top 10 in each category. Hampton is joined in the digs top ten by Jenny Greco, who is sixth at 2.96.
In the middle, Meagan Davis and Lauren Cuyler form one of the top middle blocker duos in the conference. Davis is hitting .342 while averaging 1.24 blocks/game. Cuyler has a .327 hitting percentage to go along with her 1.07 blocks/game.
Not to be outdone, senior Meghan Bedford is LSU’s most efficient outside hitter at .271 while also notching over a block/game.
Setting the table for everyone is junior Katie Kubena, who ranks third in the SEC with 12.68 assists/game.
Ole Miss relies on Jamie Burns and her 3.73 kills/game to spark their offense. Abby Hollander has proven to be the most effective hitter, recording a .318 hitting percentage on the season.