BATON ROUGE — Marina Skender and Sam Dabbs racked up double-doubles as the LSU volleyball team fought back from a 2-1 deficit to earn a gritty 3-2 victory [31-29, 23-25, 22-25, 25-12, 15-11] over Tennessee Friday in the SEC opener for both teams at the Maravich Center. The match was played in-front of 1,303 rowdy fans, which ranks 10th in program history.
“We knew Tennessee is a great team and that was an absolute war tonight,” head coach Fran Flory said. “Our kids did a great job of persevering. We lost a lot of little battles, but we won the overall war.”
Dabbs passed out a career-best 56 assists and added a career-high 16 digs. She also tacked on seven kills, falling three shy of her second career triple-double as LSU saved its two best hitting performances for the fourth and fifth sets.
Skender ripped a match-best 19 kills to go along with 16 digs of her own. She became the 12th player in program history to eclipse 1,200 career kills and is six away from passing Carmis Franks (1993-96) for 11th place.
Fueled by a dominant 25-12 fourth set victory, LSU (7-3, 1-0 SEC) jumped out to a quick 3-0 advantage in the deciding frame. At 3-2, the Tigers ran off seven of the next 11 points to surge ahead 10-6 sparked by a trio of Angela Bensend spikes.
“Angela was the key to the match in the last two sets for us,” Flory said. “We weren’t sure she could match up because they have such a big block in front of her. She hasn’t been feeling very well, so we were trying to protect her a little bit. What a great performance, I couldn’t be more proud of her.”
Tennessee (6-4, 0-1 SEC) pulled within two points twice, the latest at 13-11, before a pair of Lady Volunteer errors gave the Tigers a 15-11 triumph. LSU has now won five of its last six SEC openers under Flory dating back to the 2004 season.
LSU’s middle blockers produced solid matches as Brittnee Cooper fired in 12 kills and seven blocks. Michele Williams smacked 11 kills on a .308 hitting percentage, while Lauren DeGirolamo turned in a complete performance with eight kills, 13 digs and six blocks.
“Tennessee did a great job of reducing Brittnee’s effectiveness,” Flory said. “We kept trying to force her. Finally, we got out of that rhythm and started using more options in our offense. That’s when we really turned the tables.”
Another key to LSU’s comeback win was the back row. The Tigers registered an 83 percent (10-of-12) and 75 percent (9-of-12) sideout efficiency in the final two sets. Lauren Waclawczyk corralled a career-high 26 digs and Sam Delahoussaye chipped in 13 digs.
The opening set featured 17 ties and five lead changes. Both teams held three-point leads at different stages, Tennessee at 5-2 and LSU at 20-17. The Tigers turned away set point twice before receiving consecutive kills from DeGirolamo and Williams at 29-29 to emerge with the 31-29 victory.
LSU fired out to a 10-5 advantage in set two capped by a Delahoussaye ace. The Lady Vols strung together a 13-5 run behind three blocks in addition to a pair of from Nikki Fowler and Kayla Jeter kills en route to an 18-15 edge. LSU battled back to tie the score on four times, but Tennessee reeled off three of the final four points to squeak out the 25-23 win.
The third set was another close affair highlighted by 14 ties and four lead changes. Tennessee once again used a strong finishing kick to come away with the 25-22 win. Behind 21-20, Leslie Cirka knocked two kills and the Lady Vols forced Cooper into back-to-back attack errors.
LSU turned up the defensive intensity in set four forcing Tennessee into five attack errors to build a 13-6 lead. At 20-12, Dabbs served the Tigers into fifth set as LSU scored five straight points for the 25-12 victory. Cooper and Bensend put the finishing touches on the frame with a block.
LSU makes its 2009 national television debut Sunday on ESPNU as No. 16 Kentucky visits the Maravich Center. First serve is slated for 2 p.m.
“This was a tough match, but that’s what SEC volleyball is all about,” Flory said. “You’ve got to be able to play a match like this and bounce back. We have a day in between to prepare and recover. We’ll be ready to play a very talented Kentucky team on Sunday.”
LSU vs. Tennessee Volleyball
September 18, 2009
LSU HEAD COACH FRAN FLORY
Opening Statement …
“Tennessee is a great team. We knew they were good, but they were very good; that was an absolute war tonight. Our kids did a great job of persevering. We lost a lot of little battles, but overall we won the war. I thought Angela Bensend was the key to the match in the last two sets for us.”
On Angela Bensend …
“We weren’t sure she could match up in the terms of the height she plays because they have such a big block in front of her, so we chose to go with Madie Jones. Bensend was very good for us last week at Tulane and she kind of earned a spot. She hasn’t been feeling very well, so we were trying to protect her a little bit, but what a great performance. I couldn’t be more proud of her.”
On the play of the offense …
“We need both our middles, but (Tennessee) did a great job of reducing the effectiveness of (Brittnee) Cooper. We kept trying to force her, but finally when we got out of that rhythm and started going places and using more options in our offense, that’s when we really turned the tables.”
On the passing on the back line …
“Our ball control is key and we know that, so we work really hard at it. What a great comeback by Lauren Waclawczyk and Sam Delahoussaye as well. You can’t say enough about our ball control when our offense is that good.”
On Sunday’s match with Kentucky …
“This was a tough match, but that’s what SEC volleyball is about. You’ve got to be able to play this match and bounce back. At least we have a day in between; we can prepare and recover. We’ll be ready to play on Sunday.”
On starting strong in conference play …
“The first game of the SEC is always one of the most important weekends. We have to start off strong and show everybody that we’re here to play. The first wins like this help us later in the season.”
On coming in off the bench …
“I’m ready the whole time for coach to call my number. I just have to get warmed up and I’m ready to go. Whenever (Coach Flory) is ready to put me in, it’s go time.”