AUBURN, Ala. — The 24th-ranked LSU volleyball team responded to a loss to Alabama on Friday with a win at Auburn on Sunday, 30-28, 30-26, 28-30, 30-16, in the Student Activities Center.
With the win, the purple and gold improved to 13-2 on the season and 3-1 in Southeastern Conference play. AU dropped to 7-5 overall and 1-3 in league play.
After LSU took the first two games in very close contests, AU extended the match by taking game three by the closest of margins. In the fourth game, the purple and gold dominated, closing out the match in fashion, 30-16.
“Although we did not execute well, we won the key points,” said LSU head coach Fran Flory. “Lauren Leaumont came in and did a great job. Ivana (Kuzmic) and our middles were a huge factor. We need to get back to being a balanced team again. We are anxious to get into the gym, but we will be ready for this week.”
Freshman Kyna Washington led the match with 17 kills and four service aces, followed by senior Ivana Kuzmic posted 11 kills and six blocks for LSU. Junior Kassi Mikulik led the match with 18 digs, while Heather Fierce and Daniela Romero combined for 27 and 15 assists respectively.
Auburn was led by Jennifer Amobi with 16 kills and Whitney Jacob with 15. Bailey Veit led AU with 16 digs, while Julie Bosler led the match with seven blocks. Alison Jacobs led the match with 45 assists for Auburn.
In the first game, LSU jumped out to a 10-6 advantage. Auburn came back to tie it up at 13 all before taking a 15-13 lead. After the media timeout, the purple and gold scored three straight to retake the lead 16-15. AU then tied it up at 16 all and the pair were tied eight more times before LSU took the lead for good, 28-27. The purple and gold scored two of the final three points to take the game, 30-28, on a kill by Kuzmic.
LSU dominated the first part of the second game, taking the 14-4 lead. Auburn did not go down without a fight, scoring 15 of the next 21 points to get within one, 20-19, but could get no closer. With the purple and gold leading 24-23, LSU scored six of the next nine points to take the two-game lead into the locker room, 30-26.
The purple and gold fell behind early in the third game and trailed most of the game. Auburn led by three, 7-4, but LSU came back to tie it up. After seven more tied scores, AU took the lead again, 17-16, and led by as many as three, 20-17. The purple and gold came back to tie it up at 23 all, but three straight by Auburn gave AU the 26-23 lead. LSU got back to within one, 28-27, and again at 29-28, but a kill by Auburn gave AU the game, 30-28.
The match was never in doubt in the fourth game. The purple and gold took a five-point lead, 9-4, and the score never got closer than three the rest of the way. Leading 12-9, LSU scored 18 of the final 25 points to cruise to the win, 30-16.
The purple and gold close out their seven-week road trip next week. LSU will travel to face Fayetteville to take on Arkansas on Wednesday at 7 p.m. before facing Kentucky on Sunday at 12:30 (CT).
LSU def. Auburn, 30-28, 30-26, 28-30. 30-16
LSU (13-2, 3-1 SEC) (Kills-aces-blocks) – Kyna Washington 17-4-2; Ivana Kuzmic 11-0-6; Marina Skender 7-0-4; Melody Clark 5-0-5; Jelena Mijatovic 5-1-2; Heather Fierce 2-2-0; Lauren Leaumont 6-1-0; Vanessa Freeman 5-0-1; Kassi Mikulik 0-2-0; Daniela Romero 0-0-0; Totals 58-10-11.0. (Assists) – Heather Fierce 27, Daniela Romero 15. (Dig leaders) – Kassi Mikulik 18.
Auburn (7-5, 1-3 SEC) (Kills-aces-blocks) – Jennifer Amobi 16-1-3; Whitney Jacob 15-0-3; Julie Bosler 7-0-7; Dalia Naidzinaviciut 7-0-2; Rachel Shanks 6-1-2; Alison Jacobs 0-2-3; Jelena Sekulic 0-1-0; Jessica Glover 0-0-0; Bailey Veit 0-0-0; Totals 51-5-11.0. (Assists) – Alison Jacobs 45. (Dig leaders) – Bailey Veit 16.