Overall Record: 14-1
SEC Record: 5-1
SEC Standings: 2nd overall [1st West]
AVCA Ranking: No. 15
NCAA RPI: No. 16
Last Week: 1-1
Oct. 1 – at No. 2 Florida [L, 3-1 – 16-25, 25-20, 22-25, 18-25]
Oct. 3 – at South Carolina [W, 3-0 – 25-14, 25-19, 25-19]
Nominee for Offensive Player of the Week
Michele Williams, MB, Jr., Magnolia, Texas
Williams belted 3.43 kills per set on a .476 hitting percentage as LSU sustained its SEC Western Division lead. She cranked 14 kills at No. 2 Florida and followed that up with a monumental effort at South Carolina. The Magnolia, Texas, native knocked 10 kills on 13 swings without an attack error for a career-best .769 hitting clip and added four blocks along with a season-high three aces against the Gamecocks.
Totals for the Week
SP Kills Err. Att. Pct. Assists Aces Rec * Err Rec * Att Digs BS BA TB Team ** Hit Pct.
7 24 4 42 .476 1 3 0 0 4 1 3 4 .275
Nominee for Freshman of the Week
Desiree Elliott, MB, Fr., Cypress, Texas
Elliott continued to take the SEC by storm with her solid all-around game as LSU maintained its SEC Western Division lead. Elliott belted 16 kills at 2.29 kills per set average and connected for a .387 hitting percentage, a full .137 margin above her season average. Playing only front row, Elliott also secured 1.29 blocks per set and vaulted into the SEC’s Top 10 in that category during league matches.
Totals for the Week
SP Kills Err. Att. Pct. Assists Aces Rec * Err Rec * Att Digs BS BA TB Team ** Hit Pct.
7 16 4 31 .387 0 0 0 0 3 0 9 9 .275
Notes on the Tigers
LSU entered the weekend as one of only five undefeated teams in the nation, but the Tigers had their 13-match winning streak to start the season come to a close in a 3-1 setback at No. 2 Florida. LSU bounced back with a sweep at South Carolina to improve to 14-1, 5-1 SEC and maintained its one-match lead over Auburn and Ole Miss in the SEC Western Division race. Despite the loss, the Tigers advanced one spot to No. 15 in the newest edition of the AVCA Top 25 poll. The LSU offensive continues to be fueled by Angela Bensend and Brittney Johnson. The duo headlines the SEC with 4.40 kills and 10.92 assists per set. Bensend has ripped 10 or more kills in nine straight matches, while Johnson has eclipsed the 40-assist plateau seven times. The Tigers have belted over a .300 hitting percentage in four of their five outings. Michele Williams checks in among the SEC’s Top 10 with 3.34 kills per set on a .376 hitting clip. She powered home 10 kills on 13 swings without an attack error en route to a career-best .769 hitting ratio at South Carolina. Desiree Elliott has started conference play on fire and her .433 hitting percentage is second-highest during league matches. Elliott also has picked up her defense and ranks sixth with 1.10 blocks per set. Over her last seven matches, Madie Jones has hammered home 81 of her 143 kills. She has cranked double figure kills in five of those matches. LSU’s back row has sustained its effective style of play. Lauren Waclawczyk, Sam Delahoussaye and Meghan Mannari are a big part of the success as the Tigers have produced a 68 percent sideout efficiency [283-415] along with a 96 percent serve-receive rating [334-347] to start conference play. Waclawczyk has secured 4.02 digs per set to rank fifth, while her 0.32 aces per set are sixth in the SEC. LSU returns home for the first time in two weeks and faces Kentucky [7 p.m., Friday] along with Tennessee [1:30 p.m., Sunday] inside the Maravich Center.