FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The LSU volleyball team dropped a tough 24-30, 30-28, 30-22, 30-23 loss to border-state rival Arkansas on Sunday in Fayetteville, Ark.
The loss snaps the Tigers seven-game win streak over Southeastern Conference Western Division opponents this season. With the win, Arkansas (16-9, 11-2) clinches at least a share of the SEC West title. Meanwhile, LSU (13-9, 8-5) was mathematically eliminated from the race.
It is the first time this season the Tigers have lost a match after winning the first game. They were previously 13-0 on those occasions.
Senior Meagan Davis was outstanding for LSU in registering 17 kills en route to a .455 hitting percentage. She also notched a team-high five blocks.
Lauren Cuyler and Jennifer Hampton, with 12 kills a piece, as well as Kyra Lancon, with 10, reached double figures in kills.
However, they could not over come the Arkansas offense which hit .301 and recorded 69 kills led by senior Eftila Tanellari?s 22. Libby Windell and Anna Velikanova notched 13 kills while Michelle Coens had 11 for the LadyBacks.
At the net, Jennifer Haaser was dominant in posting 10 blocks as LSU was outblocked 13-10 in the match. Coens added seven.
Velikanova and Tanellari each had double-doubles as they recorded 17 and 14 digs, respectively. Hampton had a double-double for LSU with 12 digs to go with her 12 kills. Setter Katie Kubena just missed a triple-double as she notched 41 assists, 10 digs and nine kills.
In the second stanza, LSU looked to add another game to its lead by jumping out to an 8-4 lead. But the LadyBacks continued to chip away until taking their first lead at 20-19, which they extended to 22-19. In the back-and-forth game, the Tigers came back to lead 25-23 before Arkansas re-took the lead, 27-25, which they would not relinquish.
At the mid-point of the frame Cuyler went down with a twisted ankle and was unable to go the rest of the game. The Tigers were also without the services of setter Katie Kubena for most of the first half of the stanza as she was forced out with a bloody nose.
“I felt losing Cuyler really got us out of our rhythm blocking wise. They were able to get a run going and we couldn?t counter that at the net,? said Flory.
Using the momentum gained from the game-two win, Arkansas raced out to a quick 8-4 lead in the third game. No team seemed to gain an advantage after that point until the LadyBacks three point run that made it 21-14. Trailing by seven, LSU was unable to put together a substantial run as Arkansas went ahead 2-0.
The superior blocking of the LadyBacks was evident as they blocked back five Tiger attempts in forcine LSU to a .116 hitting percentage in the game. On the other hand, Arkansas enjoyed a .417 offensive efficiency in the game despite recording just three more kills than their counterpart.
Behind the strong serving of Velikanova, the LadyBacks opened up an 11-5 lead in the fourth game. As in game three, once falling behind, LSU was unable to close to within three points of the lead and Arkansas closed out the match.
LSU took control early in game one and led by nine at 20-11. A brief LadyBack rally made it 22-16 before the Tigers re-opened the nine-point gap at 29-20. Arkansas strung together four-straight points near the end, but could not come back.
“We came out and did the things we wanted to do in the first game,? said LSU coach Fran Flory. “Our offense was clicking and we did a nice job blocking in terms of limiting their offensive efficiency.?
LSU was again without starting right side hitter Meghan Bedford. She missed her second consecutive match with a shoulder injury.
The Tigers will be on the road again on Friday at 7 p.m. when they take on Alabama, which is currently second in the SEC West.