BATON ROUGE — The LSU volleyball team looks to get back to track with home matches at the Maravich Center this weekend against Ole Miss on Friday at 7 p.m. and Arkansas on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
This weekend also kicks off “Dig for the Cure,” a national campaign that LSU is participating in that benefits Komen for the Cure in its efforts to raise awareness for the breast cancer disease.
The Tigers enter the weekend with a 6-5 overall record and a 1-3 mark in Southeastern Conference play. They managed a split last weekend to open their home slate, defeating Tennessee, 3-1, on Friday but then getting swept by Kentucky, 3-0, on Sunday.
Four different Tigers had double-figure kills in the win over Tennessee, led by Kyna Washington and Brittnee Cooper who each had 15. Elena Martinez paced LSU defensively, collecting 22 digs against Tennessee and another 16 versus the Wildcats.
Friday’s match with Ole Miss is one LSU head coach Fran Flory knows will be important for her team’s chances to repeat as champions of the SEC Western Division.
“Ole Miss is a good team, and we know they’re going to give us a run for our money,” Flory said. “They’re usually one of our toughest battles in the SEC West, and winning that match will go a long way in determining the West champion.”
LSU has dominated the all-time series with Ole Miss, 43-12, including a pair of victories in 2007. The Tigers’ last loss to the Rebels came in the regular-season finale in 2006 in Oxford. LSU came out on the losing end of a 15-8 five-set decision.
However, Ole Miss currently sits atop the SEC West standings with a 6-6 overall record and a 2-1 record in the league.
The Rebels split matches last weekend with a 3-1 victory over South Carolina on Friday before falling 3-1 to No. 10 Florida on Sunday. The win over USC snapped a 10-match winning streak for the Gamecocks, who were arguably the hottest team in the conference going into the match. Junior right side Caitlin Weiss posted a season-high 15 kills against South Carolina to help lead the Rebels to the win and also passed 500 kills for her career.
“We’re going to be facing a solid team in Ole Miss who is going to come in prepared,” Flory said. “They run a good offense and have a very offensive-minded setter. They have a very explosive right side hitter we’re going to have to be ready for. But ultimately we have to focus on what we do with the ball and put the emphasis on our side of the net.”
As part of the Dig for the Cure campaign, donation tables will be at arena entrances for the match, and fans can donate by making a pledge per dig or by making a flat donation.
The team will conclude its four-match homestand on Sunday when the Tigers play host to Arkansas at 1:30 p.m. in a match that will be televised live by Cox Sports Television.
Voll