KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The No. 20 LSU volleyball team looks to bounce back after having its eight-match winning streak snapped with a Monday tilt at Tennessee 6 p.m. inside Thompson-Boling Arena.
“The Kentucky loss was just like the Florida win where it counts as just one match in the overall standings,” head coach Fran Flory said. “We’ve moved forward and the key is we need to focus in on the serve-and-pass battle, something we lost at Kentucky.”
LSU (15-5, 9-2 SEC) holds a three-match lead over Auburn in the SEC Western Division standings. The Tigers notched a 3-2 win over Tennessee earlier this season where Sam Dabbs distributed a career-high 56 assists and tallied a career-best 16 digs.
Marina Skender matched a season-high with 19 kills and added 10 digs in LSU’s 3-2 loss against the Wildcats. Her 4.03 kills per set in SEC action ranks fourth.
Brittnee Cooper tacked on 17 kills and nine blocks against the Wildcats. She continues to pace the league with a .391 hitting percentage and 1.33 blocks per set.
Michele Williams chipped in 12 kills and five blocks versus Kentucky. Her 0.42 aces per set lead the SEC, while her 1.12 blocks per set are fourth.
Lauren DeGirolamo headlined LSU’s defense en route to equaling a career-best with 16 digs to go along with her nine blocks highlighted by three solo stuffs against Kentucky. She has notched 1.13 blocks per set in conference matches.
Tennessee (15-5, 8-2 SEC) enters on a league best five-match winning streak highlighted by a 3-1 triumph Wednesday at No. 7 Kentucky. The Lady Vols are led by Nikki Fowler, who posted 20 kills and 17 digs against the Wildcats. Chloe Goldman has reeled in 4.94 digs per set and tallied 23 digs versus Kentucky.
“Tennessee is the most under ranked team in our conference,” head coach Fran Flory said. “They’re very physical and fast. I believe they’re the best defensive team in the league. The challenge was to match them on the defensive side of the net and that will be certainly a tough task.”
Live video and stats for the Tennessee match are available in the Geaux Zone on LSUsports.net. Fans also can follow in-match updates of the four-time defending SEC Western Division champions via www.twitter.com/lsuvolleyball.