FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The LSU volleyball team dropped a hard fought match to Southeastern Conference Western Division champion Arkansas on the road in Barnhill Arena, 30-23, 30-27, 31-29, on Wednesday night.
With the loss, the Tigers fell to 11-17 overall and 6-9 in SEC play. Arkansas, which is receiving votes in the current AVCA/USA Today Top 25 poll and has won 18 of its last 19 matches, improved to 21-5 overall and 14-1 in league play.
“I thought we did a better job tonight at creating opportunities,” said LSU head coach Fran Flory. “We came very close to pushing this match into extra games. I think that if we had gained the advantage at any point late in the match that the outcome may have been different.
“I thought overall we got a better effort from our team. They were more focused and played harder. It was definitely a much closer match than the scores might indicate.”
Regan Hood led the Tigers with 12 kills, while also recording eight digs and three blocks. Lauren Leaumont had a double-double for LSU with 11 kills and 11 blocks. Kassi Mikulik also had a double-double, as she recorded 10 kills and a team-best 12 digs. Megan Heinz led the Tigers with four blocks, followed by Melody Clark with three.
Arkansas was led by Sara Kincaid with 16 kills, eight blocks and two service aces. Kele Brewer also hit in double figures with 10 kills. Paula Castro led the Lady’Backs with 11 digs, followed by Iva Docekalova with nine digs.
“You have to give credit to Arkansas for making the plays they needed to,” said Flory. “We had to score when Sara Kincaid was on the back row and we did not take advantage of all of those situations. She is a great player and we had no answer for her tonight.”
In the first game, the Tigers fell behind early, 9-2 to start the game. Arkansas built its lead to 14-5, before LSU fought back to get it within four, 17-13. The Lady’Backs came back with a 9-1 run that was insurmountable for the Tigers. Arkansas went on to take the game, 30-23.
LSU led by as many as four early in the second game, 13-9 and 14-10. The Lady’Backs came back to tie the game at 14 before going on an 11-3 run that put them ahead, 25-19. The Tigers fought back to get it within four, 27-23. With Arkansas holding game point, 29-24, LSU fought off three game points to get it within two, 29-27, before a block by Arkansas gave them the two game advantage, 30-27.
In the third game, the Tigers fought back from several deficits, trailing 8-5, before tying it at nine. LSU then trailed, 20-17, before coming back to tie the game at 21. With the Lady’Backs leading, 27-24, the Tigers came back to tie the game at 28. LSU fought off game point by Arkansas, 29-28, on a kill by Hood, before back-to-back kills by the Lady’Backs closed out the game and the match, 31-29.
The Tigers will close out the regular season on the road at Alabama on Sunday. LSU will take on the Crimson Tide in the CAVE at 1:30 p.m. The Tigers lost in three to Alabama in Baton Rouge earlier this season.