COLLEGE STATION, Texas — With five players posting double-digit kills, the LSU volleyball team defeated Arizona State, 30-24, 23-30, 30-26, 30-16, on Friday afternoon at the G. Rollie White Coliseum in the first match of the Nokia Sugar Bowl Classic.
The Tigers improved to 9-1 on the season, their best start since the 1991 season, and with all matched played on the road thus far this season, they have tied the number of road wins the entire 2004 LSU team recorded. The Sun Devils fell to 4-5 on the year, as the Tigers snapped a three-match winning streak for Arizona State.
“I think this was a big win for us,” said LSU head coach Fran Flory. “I think we did a nice job adjusting to a team that plays a different style that we are used to seeing. We were able to affect their serving game and we maintained discipline in our system. I think is a tribute to our kids and the way they played.”
Senior Jelena Mijatovic led the match with 20 kills for the Tigers, followed by Marina Skender with 13, Ivana Kuzmic with 11 and Kyna Washington and Melody Clark with 10 each. It marked the sixth 20-plus kills match for Mijatovic this season and a career best for Skender.
Washington led LSU with 17 digs, marking her career best with the Tigers and her first double-double. Mijatovic posted her fourth double-double by adding 13 digs. Heather Fierce led LSU with 37 and recorded a double-double with 13 digs. Kassi Mikulik was also in double-figures with 13 digs.
Senior Ivana Kuzmic led the match with eight blocks and a .450 hitting percentage. She is now just two blocks away from posting 600 for her career and 14 kills from 1,000.
As a team, the Tigers led Arizona State in all statistical categories. LSU posted 71 kills with a .290 hitting percentage to just 51 and a .188 mark for the Sun Devils. In addition, the Tigers posting 75 digs, compared to 70 for ASU, and 10 blocks to nine for Arizona State.
In the first game, the Tigers came out and used four kills and four blocks by Ivana Kuzmic to take the lead, 30-24. LSU hit .240 to a .091 clip for Arizona State, while out killing the Sun Devils, 16-15.
Arizona State used tips in the second game and took advantage of some Tiger mistakes to even the match, 30-23. The Sun Devils rebounded with a .500 hitting percentage, while LSU fell to a .146 mark and was out killed, 16-14.
The Tigers came back to take the third game, which was much closer than the stats showed. LSU out killed Arizona State, 23-10, and out dug the Sun Devils, 22-14, but won the game, by only four points, 30-26.
In the fourth game, the Tigers came out and dominated to take the match. LSU went on a 7-0 run to open play and led 15-5 before extending the lead to 20-9. The Tigers went on to take the game, 30-16. LSU out hit Arizona State, .586 to .111 in the game and out killed the Sun Devils, 18-11.
The Tigers will close out tournament play against No. 8 Notre Dame on Sunday at 11 a.m. The Fighting Irish are undefeated (9-0) including a 3-0 victory over Tulane on Friday afternoon and three wins over nationally ranked opponents.
LSU def. Arizona State, 30-24, 23-30-, 30-26, 30-16
LSU (9-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) – Jelena Mijatovic 20-2-1; Marina Skender 13-0-5; Ivana Kuzmic 11-0-8; Kyna Washington 10-1-2; Melody Clark 10-1-2; Heather Fierce 2-1-0; Lauren Leaumont 0-0-0; Vanessa Freeman 4-0-1; Michelle Hensgens 0-0-0; Lacey Galliano 0-0-0; Kassi Mikulik 0-0-0; Daniela Romero 1-0-0; Totals 71-5-10.0. (Assists) – Heather Fierce 37, Daniela Romero 20. (Dig leaders) – Kyna Washington 17, Jelena Mijatovic 13, Heather Fierce 13, Kassi Mikulik 13.
Arizona State (4-5) (Kills-aces-blocks) Margie Giordano 16-0-3; Nina Reeves 9-0-1; Colette Meek 8-1-4; Staci Smith 6-0-5; Sarah Watkins 3-0-0; Giovana Melo 2-0-1; Alison Lund 0-0-0; Tierra Burnley 4-0-0; Rachel Mittelstaedt 0-0-0; Kristin Trayser 3-1-4; Sydney Donahue 0-0-0 – Totals 51-2-9.0. (Assists) – Giovana Melo 46. (Dig leaders) – Sydney Donahue 24, Margie Giordano 14, Nina Reeves 11, Giovana Melo 10.