BATON ROUGE — The LSU volleyball team finally ran on all cylinders in a Friday sweep over Ole Miss, and the Tigers are looking to carry that over into a Sunday contest with Arkansas in the Maravich Center at 1:30 p.m.
The match will be showcased on live television by Cox Sports Television. On-air talent will include Lyn Rollins and Victor Howell.
The Tigers’ focus against Ole Miss was to come out and control the tempo of the match early, and they did just that, winning set one 25-15 and never looking back. Their record improved to 7-5 (2-3 Southeastern Conference) in their third sweep of the season.
“I think that match was the perfect turnaround for us,” LSU head coach Fran Flory said. “We played with a sense of urgency that we needed. We developed a great rhythm and I expect to maintain that and continue to build on what we started on Friday.”
On the other hand Arkansas will come to Baton Rouge looking for some redemption, losers of four straight, including dropping a 3-0 decision at Georgia on Friday. The Razorbacks own just a 4-10 overall record and are 1-4 in league action.
The Razorbacks are hitting slightly below the Tigers (.186) with a .180 hitting percentage on the year, but Arkansas is allowing opponents a .242 clip as opposed to a .184 average clip by LSU.
“Arkansas is a very young team,” Flory explained, “but they are very dangerous and very scrappy. They are playing with a renewed purpose behind a new coaching staff. Our matches with them are traditionally very tight, close matches, and I expect this match to be a battle as well. This one will be won or lost on first contact serving and passing.”
In the all-time series Arkansas has won 22 of 30 meetings between the two teams, even though the Tigers got the better of the Razorbacks in both contests in 2007 and have won five straight. They swept Arkansas in 2006 as well as a home win in 2005, their last loss to the Razorbacks coming in Fayetteville in 2005.
This match will conclude a four-match homestand for the Tigers, who will travel to Athens, Ga., for a mid-week contest with the Bulldogs next week. LSU also continues the Dig for the Cure campaign, as fans are encouraged to donate to the breast cancer cause at tables located at arena entrances.