COLUMBIA, S.C. — For the second straight year, the LSU volleyball team went into the Volleyball Competition Facility and took a match from South Carolina, defeating the Gamecocks, 30-23, 30-19, 26-30, 30-26, in Southeastern Conference action on Friday night.
With their third win in a row, and fourth win in their last five matches, the Tigers improved to 14-9 overall and 6-7 in SEC play. The loss South Carolina to 11-11 overall and 4-9 in league play. LSU is now just one win away from guaranteeing itself a spot in the SEC Tournament in two weeks.
“This was a big win for us on the road,” said LSU head coach Fran Flory. “I think we are gaining more and more confidence with each match in our new lineup and it has shown in our results.”
Senior Regan Hood led a trio of Tigers in double-figures with 18 kills. Junior Jelena Mijatovic posted 16 kills and a eight service aces, which is tied for the third most in a four-game match in school history. In addition, she hit at a .419 clip for the match, while junior Ivana Kuzmic recorded 14 kills, hit at a .290 clip and posted a match-best seven blocks.
Senior Beth Cowley led LSU with a career-high 14 digs, followed by sophomore Daniela Romero with 11 digs and 55 assists for her fifth double-double of the season. Senior Rachel Pittman recorded 10 digs, her 13th double-figure dig performance of the season.
“I think this was the best performance by Dee Romero since she has been at LSU,” said Flory. “She almost won the match single handedly by getting our offense into position to be successful. Our hitters came through when we needed them, but I think this was a great job by Dee.”
As a team, LSU posted a .312 hitting percentage, hitting under .300 in only one game in the match. The Tigers also recorded a season-best 13 service aces as a team, while out digging the Gamecocks 49-43 and out blocking South Carolina, 9-5. As a team, South Carolina managed to hit just .223 as a team, recording just one game over .200 for the match.
Shonda Cole led South Carolina with 19 kills, followed by Sarah Morgan with 11. Morgan and Katelyn Panzau led the Gamecocks with nine digs each, while Nichole Miller posted a team-best four blocks.
“I thought we came in here and did a good job of taking them out of their offense,” said Flory.
The Tigers served their way to a game one win, recording five service aces, including three by Mijatovic. In addition, LSU hit .312 as a team, as Hood posted five kills and Kuzmic had four. The Tigers stretched out a seven point lead midway though the game, 15-8, before South Carolina came back to within two, 22-20. With the Gamecocks behind by three, 25-22, LSU went on a 5-1 run to take the game, 30-23.
In the second game, the Tigers recorded six aces, including four in a row by Mijatovic at the beginning of the game. LSU also improved its hitting percentage to .438, posting just two errors with 16 kills. The Tigers jumped out to a 6-0 lead to start the game. South Carolina got as close as three, 13-10, before LSU went on a 12-5 run to pull ahead by 10. A kill by Kuzmic sent the Tigers to the locker room with the two-game advantage, 30-19.
While LSU continued to hit above .300, posting a .343 percentage, South Carolina also found its stride, hitting at a .349 clip. The Tigers led by five, 14-9, before a 6-1 run by the Gamecocks tied it up at 15 all. South Carolina would pull ahead by as many as five, 27-22, and the Tigers could get no closer than three the rest of the way as the Gamecocks sent the match to a fourth game, 30-26.
In the fourth game, South Carolina jumped out to the 8-5 lead before LSU tied it up with a 3-0 run. The Tigers led by as many as seven, 15-8, before a Gamecock came back to tie it up at 23 all. After two more tied scores, LSU went on a 5-1 run to close out the game and the match, 30-26.
The Tigers will now travel to Knoxville, Tenn., to take on the No. 15 Lady Vols. LSU will battle Tennessee on Sunday at 1 p.m. (CST) in Stokley Coliseum.
LSU def. South Carolina 30-23, 30-19, 26-30, 30-26
LSU (14-9, 6-7 SEC) (Kills-aces-blocks) – Regan Hood 18-2-2; Jelena Mijatovic 16-8-1; Ivana Kuzmic 14-0-7; Melody Clark 9-0-2; Vanessa Freeman 4-0-3; Daniela Romero 1-1-2; Rachel Pittman 0-1-0; Beth Cowley 0-1-0; Totals 62-13-9.0. (Assists) – Daniela Romero 55. (Dig leaders) – Beth Cowley 14; Daniela Romero 11; Rachel Pittman 10
South Carolina (11-11, 4-9 SEC) (Kills-aces-blocks) – Shonda Cole 19-1-0; Sarah Morgan 11-0-1; Iris Santos 8-2-3; Lauren Ford 5-0-1; Lynae Vanden Hull 5-0-0; Nicole Miller 5-1-4; Katelyn Panzau 3-3-1; Crystal Johnson 1-0-0; Totals 57-7-5.0. (Assists) – Katelyn Panzau 42. (Dig leaders) – Katelyn Panzau 9; Sarah Morgan 9