BATON ROUGE — The No. 20 LSU volleyball team takes its eight-match winning streak on the road for a first-place showdown with No. 7 Kentucky. Both teams enter Saturday’s match with identical 9-1 conference records and first serve is set for 12:30 p.m.
The eight straight victories highlighted by five consecutive sweeps mark LSU’s longest winning streak since putting together a 13-match streak during the 2006 season from Sept. 1-Oct. 4.
The Tigers (15-4, 9-1 SEC) dropped a 3-0 decision to then-No. 16 Kentucky earlier this season. Sarah Mendoza, Gretchen Giesler and Becky Pavin combined for 29 of UK’s 38 kills, while the Wildcats also racked up 14.5 blocks. Marina Skender and Michele Williams countered with 10 kills apiece for LSU.
“I think our team is pretty motivated for and knows how important this weekend is,” head coach Fran Flory said. “We start the second half of the SEC schedule against Kentucky and Tennessee just like the first half except we’re on the road. We’re going to have to be more prepared and execute at a high level to be successful.”
Sam Dabbs has fueled the LSU offense to nine .300 team hitting percentage or better efforts, including five of the Tigers last six matches. Her 10.95 assists per set rank second in the SEC to go along with 25th nationally and has upped her average to 11.52 helpers per frame in league matches.
Dabbs also has fired in 49 kills at a .500 hitting percentage in conference play and fell one spike shy of a triple-double against South Carolina and Ole Miss.
“The passing is what’s creating opportunities for Sam,” Flory said. “The fact that we’re able to get the ball into her hands with the opportunity to make choices is the key. From that phase forward, Sam has done an excellent job of making the right choices.”
Skender has cranked double-digit kills in 16 of 19 matches, including 13 of her last 14 outings. She has knocked 105 kills on a .298 hitting clip during LSU’s eight-match winning streak and her 4.06 spikes per set in league matches ranks third.
Skender also has ripped 23 aces, including seven multi-ace performances. She has knocked 11 aces over her last eight matches and her 0.34 per set average ranks fourth in the SEC.
Brittnee Cooper leads the Tiger offense with 228 kills and her .388 hitting percentage leads the SEC and ranks 17th nationally. She has connected for 80 kills on a crisp .458 hitting clip during LSU’s eight-match winning streak and has turned in over a .400 hitting clip in 10 of her last 16 matches.
Cooper has racked up 88 blocks at a 1.29 per set ratio. She headlines the SEC and has improved on her 1.21 per set effort that paced the league last season.
Lauren DeGirolamo and Michele Williams have combined for 56 kills over LSU’s last four matches. The duo also joins Cooper in the blocking department of the SEC’s Top 10. Williams 1.12 per set average, while DeGirolamo’s 1.03 per set ratio rank fourth and seventh, respectively.
“We’re going to have to do a better job of contesting Kentucky on contact at the net,” Flory said. “Our blocking is going to have to be a factor specifically on the outside. I also think we’ll have to play fast in transition on both offensive and defense.”
Angela Bensend has compiled 49 kills on a .333 hitting percentage during LSU’s eight-match winning streak and tallied over a .400 hitting clip six times. LSU has won 13 of its 14 matches over the last three seasons when Bensend reaches double-digit kills.
Lauren Waclawczyk and Sam Delahoussaye anchor the back row and have recorded double-figure digs in three of the last four matches. Waclawczyk’s 0.26 aces and 3.51 digs per set both rank 10th in the SEC.
Mendoza paces the Kentucky (19-2, 9-1 SEC) attack and has powered home 332 kills at a SEC-best 4.31 spikes per set, while Sarah Rumely has dished out a league-high 11.83 assists per set. BriAnne Sauer has reeled in 4.19 digs per set for the Wildcats.
“Kentucky is an extremely balanced team,” Flory said. “Their offense and ball control is amongst the best in the nation not just the SEC. We’re going to have to play great defense and match them offensively. This is going to be a great battle.”
Live video and stats for the Kentucky match are available by clicking on the links provided via LSUsports.net. Fans also can follow in-match updates of the four-time defending SEC Western Division champions via www.twitter.com/lsuvolleyball.