BATON ROUGE — After three home matches, the LSU volleyball team has yet to lose a game, sweeping Auburn, 30-17, 30-23, 30-19, in Southeastern Conference play on Friday night in the Maravich Center.
With the win, the Fighting Tigers improved to 17-5 overall and 7-4 in SEC play, and are 9-0 in games in their three matches at home. AU fell to 8-11 on the season and 2-9 in league play, falling to LSU for the second time this season.
The purple and gold will host Alabama on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. The Crimson Tide lost at Arkansas in five games on Friday and the pair are now tied for the SEC West lead with the Fighting Tigers one game behind. Auburn remains in 10th place in the SEC, a half game out of the eighth and final spot in the SEC Tournament.
“Auburn is fighting to get into the SEC Tournament,” said LSU head coach Fran Flory. “They are as healthy as they have been all season and we were very concerned about this match. We played very physically and were successful against them.”
LSU dominated Auburn statistically, with the purple and gold recording 50 kills to 31 for AU, while LSU posted 13 blocks to seven for Auburn. In addition, the Fighting Tigers hit at a .379 clip, the second best team mark of the season, while holding AU to just a .070 hitting percentage. LSU also out dug Auburn, 34-27, while posting six service aces to only four for AU.
“Our serve kept them off balance offensively while our offense got on track,” said Flory. “We were able to transition after free balls and were able to maintain that throughout the match.”
Marina Skender led the match with 16 kills for the Fighting Tigers, followed by 11 each by Jelena Mijatovic and Kyna Washington. Ivana Kuzmic and Melody Clark tied for the match high with six blocks, while Kassi Mikulik led the match with 11 digs. Mijatovic and Kyna Washington each posted two service aces, while Daniela Romero led the match with 41 assists.
Auburn was held without a player in double-figures in kills as Jennifer Amobi and Rachel Shanks each posted nine kills. Whitney Jacob led AU with four blocks, while Bailey Veit posted a team-best nine digs for Auburn.
After LSU fell behind 7-4 in the first game, the Fighting Tigers scored seven straight points, including both aces by Mijatovic, to take an 11-7 lead. LSU never trailed again as Auburn only got to within two the rest of the way. With the Fighting Tigers leading 13-11, LSU went on a 17-6 run to close out the game.
The Fighting Tigers wasted no time in jumping ahead in the second game. LSU led 5-1 before stretching it to as many as nine points, 29-20, but Auburn fought off three game points before the Fighting Tigers put them away on a kill by Skender, 30-23.
LSU again pulled ahead early in the third game, 6-1, and never looked back. AU never got to within more than four before the Fighting Tigers sealed the match with a 16-9 rally, 30-19.
The purple and gold remain at home to host the Crimson Tide on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Due to the Saints game on Sunday at 3 p.m., fans are encouraged to park in Lots L and M. These lots are located off of Cypress Drive, directly behind the Maravich Center near the Carl Maddox Fieldhouse and the W.T. “Dub” Robinson Tennis Stadium, and down the hill from the Indian Mounds.
LSU def. Auburn, 30-17, 30-23, 30-19
Auburn (8-11, 2-9 SEC) (Kills-aces-blocks) – Jennifer Amobi 9-2-1; Rachel Shanks 9-1-3; Whitney Jacob 5-0-4; Julie Bosler 2-0-1; Jelena Sekulic 0-0-0; Alison Jacobs 0-0-0; Jessica Glover 1-0-0; Dalia Naidzinaviciut 5-0-1; Bailey Veit 0-1-0; Totals 31-4-7.0. (Assists) – Alison Jacobs 26. (Dig leaders) – Bailey Veit 9.
LSU (17-5, 7-4 SEC) (Kills-aces-blocks) – Marina Skender 16-1-4; Jelena Mijatovic 11-2-4; Kyna Washington 11-1-2; Ivana Kuzmic 6-0-6; Melody Clark 4-1-6; Daniela Romero 1-0-3; Lauren Leaumont 0-0-0; Vanessa Freeman 1-0-0; Kassi Mikulik 0-0-0; Totals 50-6-13.0. (Assists) – Daniela Romero 41. (Dig leaders) – Kassi Mikulik 11.