LEXINGTON, Ky. — Despite a strong showing in the second set, the LSU volleyball team fell to league-leading and 21st-ranked Kentucky, 25-21, 20-25, 25-19, 25-21, in Memorial Coliseum on Friday night.
LSU fell to 12-8 overall and 7-6 in conference play, but the Tigers maintained a half-match lead over Ole Miss, which was a three-set victim to Florida. Kentucky improved to 21-3 overall and remains tied with Florida atop the conference standings with a 12-1 record.
“We played very hard tonight but it was a frustrating match,” LSU head coach Fran Flory said. “We did some things well, but ultimately we didn’t get enough touches blocking and we didn’t do a good job of taking away the right area of their offense, and that one portion of the game that was lacking cost us tonight.”
Kentucky jumped on the Tigers early by winning the first set 25-21. LSU responded by racing out to a 6-0 lead in the second set and finished it off by winning 25-20. The Wildcats took the third set, 25-19, and closed out the match with a 25-21 decision in the fourth set.
Junior Brittnee Cooper and freshman Michelle Williams both pounded out 13 kills to lead LSU’s attack, and Cooper blocked five Kentucky attacks while Williams finished with three blocks. Senior Elena Martinez once again finished with more than 20 digs as the New Orleans native recorded 21 on the night.
Senior Kyna Washington continued her assault on the LSU record books by moving into sixth place in the all-time career kills list by finishing with eight against the Wildcats. Washington passed Lisa Smith as she now has 1,382 in her career. In addition, Washington tied former Tiger Luciana Reis for 10th on the all-time service aces list as Washington had two aces against Kentucky to push her total up to 143.
Kentucky was led by sophomore Sarah Mendoza who finished with a double-double with a match-high 16 kills and 12 digs. Lauren Rapp and Blaire Hiler each recorded 11 kills as the Wildcats finished with 54 kills to LSU’s 49.
LSU will travel to Knoxville, Tenn., to take on Tennessee which swept Georgia on Friday to improve to 9-4 in SEC play.