GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The 13th-ranked LSU volleyball team could not overcome No. 8 Florida, as the Tigers fell, 30-26, 30-22, 30-22, on Sunday afternoon at the O’Connell Center, dropping into second place in the Southeastern Conference standings.
LSU moved to 16-3 on the season and 8-2 in SEC play, while the Gators improved to 16-2 overall and 9-1 in the league. The Tigers are now a game behind Florida in the overall standings and are tied with Alabama for first place in the SEC West.
“This was a very high level, tough match,” said LSU head coach Fran Flory. “This is a great lesson for us. It was a high level of play with some great defensive plays. I think this team will get better from this match. One match is not going to define our season positively or negatively. We know we will just get back in the gym and get better and get ready for next weekend.”
Sophomore Marina Skender led the match with 16 kills, while also posting 10 digs for a double-double for the Tigers. Freshman Lauren DeGirolamo was second on the team with nine kills. Skender and senior Melody Clark tied for the team lead with three blocks each. Seniors Kassi Mikulik and Daniela Romero led LSU with 14 digs each.
“For every mistake that we made, Florida made us pay and we did not do a good job of taking care of the ball,” said Flory. “We never really got in sync offensively. Our outsides did not feel comfortable with what we were doing and how they were defending us. We could not get Kyna, especially, on track.”
Amber McCray led Florida with 14 kills, followed by Kisya Killingsworth with 12 and Marcia Hampton with 11. Kristina Johnson and McCray tied for the match high with four blocks each. Elyse Cusack led the match with 23 digs for the Gators, followed by Angie McGinnis with 10.
In the first game, the Tigers jumped out to an 8-6 lead before a 3-0 run by Florida gave the Gators the 9-8 advantage. Florida went on to pull ahead, 14-10, before LSU rallied back to tie it up at 17 all. The Tigers led, 19-17, before the Gators took the lead for good, 22-21. With LSU trailing, 24-23, Florida used a 4-0 run to take its largest lead of the game, 28-23. The Tigers got back to within three, 29-26, but a kill by Hampton gave the Gators game one, 30-26.
LSU took its largest lead in the match, 12-8, early in game two. Florida came back and tied it up at 18 all. With the Tigers leading, 19-18, the Gators used a 4-0 run to retake the lead for good. LSU got within two, 21-23, but Florida then scored five straight to pull away as the Gators went into the locker room with the two-game lead, 30-22.
The Tigers fell behind early in the third game and never recovered. Florida led, 8-4, and stretched the lead to 16-9. LSU got no closer than six the rest of the way. With Florida leading, 23-13, the Tigers went on a 4-1 run to pull within seven. With the Gators at game point, 29-20, LSU fought it off twice, but a kill by Florida gave the Gators the game and the match, 30-22.
LSU will be at home next Friday for a rematch with Kentucky at 7 p.m. before facing off once again with nationally ranked Tennessee next Sunday at 3:30 p.m. That match will be televised on SEC-TV in Baton Rouge on Fox Sports Southwest, cable channel 38, as LSU celebrates Mike the Tiger’s Birthday.
No. 8 Florida def. No. 13 LSU, 30-26, 30-22, 30-22
No. 13 LSU (16-2, 8-1 SEC) (Kills-aces-blocks) – Marina Skender 16-0-3; Lauren DeGirolamo 9-0-1; Kyna Washington 6-0-2; Melody Clark 6-0-3; Vanessa Freeman 5-0-0; Daniela Romero 3-0-2; Lauren Leaumont 0-0-0; Elena Martinez 0-0-0; Michelle Hensgens 0-1-0; Kassi Mikulik 0-0-0; Totals 45-1-7.0. (Assists) – Daniela Romero 38. (Dig leaders) – Kassi Mikulik 14, Daniela Romero 14, Marina Skender 10.
No. 8 Florida (15-2, 8-1 SEC) (Kills-aces-blocks) – Kisya Killingsworth 12-0-3; Marcie Hampton 11-1-1; Kelsey Bowers 0-1-3; Kristina Johnson 5-0-4; Angie McGinnis 3-1-1; Christina Diaz 0-1-0; Rhian Davis 0-1-0; Elyse Cusack 0-0-0; Kari Klinkenborg 0-0-0; Amber McCray 14-0-4; Alli Cecchini 0-0-0; Totals 54-4-9.5. (Assists) – Angie McGinnis 48. (Dig leaders) – Elyse Cusack 23, Angie McGinnis 10.