BATON ROUGE — The LSU volleyball team has yet to lose a game at home as the Tigers swept Alabama, 30-23, 30-20, 30-23, in Southeastern Conference play on Sunday afternoon at the Maravich Center.
With the win, LSU avenged a loss to the Crimson Tide, who are receiving votes in the national poll, earlier in the season and improved to 18-5 overall and 8-4 in league play. Alabama fell to 20-5 on the season and 8-4 in conference play.
The Tigers are now tied with the Crimson Tide for second place in the SEC West, one game behind Arkansas, with four regular season matches remaining. LSU has now posted the most wins in a season since the 1995 team went 20-12.
“I think we played very well and very balanced,” said LSU head coach Fran Flory. “I think that we did exactly what we felt like we had to do and that was play at a faster tempo than they did, especially on defense. We had to make some great defensive plays and that side of the ball had to be effective for us. Our offense was very good and it makes it really easy to be good offensively when your defense is making the plays they were making.”
In four home matches this season, the Tigers have yet to lose a game. LSU is now 12-0 in games in the Maravich Center. The Tigers have two home matches remaining as LSU closes out the regular season against Kentucky and SEC West-leading Arkansas in two weeks.
“It was a home team advantage with both teams playing very free on their home court. That’s what happens in the SEC and that’s why you fight for home matches. That is why we were so disappointed with not playing at home early in the season.”
LSU dominated Alabama statistically, with the Tigers out killing the Crimson Tide 52-33, with a .275 hitting percentage to a .102 clip for Alabama. In addition, LSU posted 11 blocks to only 5.5 for the Crimson Tide along with 50 digs to 40 for Alabama.
The Tigers posted a season-best 13 service aces in the match, including five by Marina Skender, four by Jelena Mijatovic and three by Kyna Washington. The Crimson Tide, which recorded 11 aces in the first meeting with LSU, were held to just three in the match.
“We’re in a completely different system now,” Flory said about the change in play from the loss in the first meeting and the win on Sunday. “At that point we were just kind of in a lull. We were mentally and physically exhausted and we felt like we had an opportunity to win that match but kind of gave it away. Alabama played great. They made the plays we made at our place on Sunday at their place in the first meeting.”
Mijatovic and Washington led the Tigers with 11 kills each, while Skender and Melody Clark each recorded 10 kills. Ivana Kuzmic recorded a match-best nine blocks, including four solo blocks, while Skender led the team with 12 digs, followed by Kassi Mikulik with 11. Daniela Romero led the match with 39 assists for LSU.
Alabama was led by Bridget Fuentez with 12 kills, while Brigitte Slack led the Crimson Tide with four blocks. Jessica Yearout posted a match-best 13 digs and Slack led Alabama with 28 assists.
In the first game, LSU exploded with a 6-0 lead, including three kills by Kuzmic. The Crimson Tide got to within two, 9-7, but the Tigers would let Alabama get no closer. LSU went on a 5-0 run to pull out to the 14-7 lead and never looked back. The Tigers went on to take the first game, 30-23.
LSU fell behind, 7-4, in the second game before the Tigers came back to tie it at eight all. LSU took the lead for good, 10-9, and pulled away. The Tigers closed out the game with a 20-11 run for the 30-20 victory.
In the third game, LSU would not be denied in the match. The Tigers led 10-8 before going on a 12-3 run to take the 22-11 lead. Alabama fought off three game points before LSU closed it out on a kill by Washington, 30-23.
LSU returns to the road next week as the Tigers travel through Mississippi. LSU will face Ole Miss on Friday at 7 p.m. in Oxford before facing Mississippi State on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in Starkville. The Tigers close out the regular season at home against Kentucky and Arkansas in two weeks.
LSU def. Alabama, 30-23, 30-20, 30-23
Alabama (20-5, 8-4 SEC) (Kills-aces-blocks) – Bridget Fuentez 12-0-1; Sarah Snider 8-0-0; Crystal Hudson 5-0-1; Bridgette Slack 1-1-4; Megan Hudson 0-0-0; Lindsey Buteyn 0-0-3; Jessica Yearout 0-0-0; Amy Pauly 0-1-0; Abbi Blackburn 1-1-0; Kelly Potter 6-0-1; Totals 33-3-5.5. (Assists) – Brigitte Slack 28. (Dig leaders) – Jessica Yearout 13.
LSU (18-5, 8-4 SEC) (Kills-aces-blocks) – Jelena Mijatovic 11-4-1; Kyna Washington 11-3-3; Marina Skender 10-5-3; Melody Clark 10-1-2; Ivana Kuzmic 7-0-9; Daniela Romero 3-0-0; Lauren Leaumont 0-0-0; Kassi Mikulik 0-0-0; Totals 52-13-11.0. (Assists) – Daniela Romero 39. (Dig leaders) – Marina Skender 12, Kassi Mikulik 11.