Overall Record: 23-3
SEC Record: 14-3
SEC Standings: 2nd overall [1st West]
AVCA Ranking: No. 16 [Tied]
Last Week: 1-1
Nov. 12 – at No. 21 Tennessee [W, 3-1 – 18-25, 25-23, 26-24, 25-21]
Nov. 14 – at Kentucky [L, 3-2 – 23-25, 25-21, 23-25, 25-18, 11-15]
Nominee for Offensive Player of the Week
Brittney Johnson, S, Sr., Baton Rouge, La.
Johnson, the SEC’s leader in assists per set, nearly posted a pair of triple-doubles over the weekend. She cranked 2.33 kills per set on a .405 hitting percentage in addition to 10.00 assists and 1.89 digs per frame. The Baton Rouge native equaled a career-high 12 kills to go along with 47 assists and nine digs at Kentucky for her team-leading 10th double-double of the season. She guided Desiree Elliott to a career-high 20 kills against the Wildcats. In LSU’s 3-1 win at No. 21 Tennessee, Johnson handed out 43 helpers, knocked nine kills and reeled in eight digs.
Totals for the Week
SP Kills Err. Att. Pct. Assists Aces Rec * Err Rec * Att Digs BS BA TB Team ** Hit Pct.
9 21 4 42 .405 90 3 0 0 17 0 3 3 .213
Nominee for Defensive Player of the Week
Lauren Waclawczyk, L, Jr., San Antonio, Texas
Waclawczyk continued to lead LSU’s back row as the junior libero extended her run to 13 straight matches with 10 or more digs. She reeled in 24 digs at Kentucky to reach the 20-scoop plateau for the seventh time in 2010. She also secured 14 digs during LSU’s 3-1 victory at No. 21 Tennessee. Waclawczyk tallied a pair of perfect passer ratings in her 25 attempts over the weekend.
Totals for the Week
SP Kills Err. Att. Pct. Assists Aces Rec * Err Rec * Att Digs BS BA TB Team ** Hit Pct.
9 0 0 0 .000 8 2 0 25 38 0 0 0 .213
Nominee for Freshman of the Week
Desiree Elliott, MB, Fr., Cypress, Texas
Elliott continued her strong freshman campaign and posted over three kills per set highlighted by a career-best 20 kills on a crisp .395 hitting percentage at Kentucky. The freshman middle blocker popped 19 of those spikes during the final four sets. She also ripped 10 kills in LSU’s 3-1 triumph at No. 21 Tennessee and has reached double figure kills in seven of her last 10 outings. The Cypress, Texas, native tacked on seven blocks at a 0.78 per frame average.
Totals for the Week
SP Kills Err. Att. Pct. Assists Aces Rec * Err Rec * Att Digs BS BA TB Team ** Hit Pct.
9 30 9 71 .296 0 0 0 1 2 2 5 7 .213
Notes on the Tigers
LSU picked up a gritty 3-1 victory over No. 21 Tennessee before dropping a hard-fought 3-2 battle to Kentucky over the weekend. With three matches left in the regular season, the Tigers hold a 1.5 match lead in the SEC Western Division race. The Tigers [23-3, 14-3 SEC] had their six-match winning streak come to a close, but remained at No. 16 in the latest edition of the AVCA Top 25 poll. LSU’s back row continues to be strong with a 97 percent [1050-1086] serve-receive effort coupled with a 65 percent [810-1238] sideout efficiency during SEC action. Lauren Waclawczyk has secured 10 or more digs in 13 consecutive matches dating back to Oct. 1, while her 4.13 digs per set are sixth in the SEC rankings. The junior libero also has recorded an ace in 10 of her last 15 matches. Meghan Mannari has pieced together four straight double digit dig efforts to go along with eight straight perfect passer ratings. Desiree Elliott racked up a pair of double figure kill performances highlighted by a career-best 20 spikes at Kentucky. Her .349 hitting ratio in conference play ranks seventh, while her 1.05 blocks per frame are eighth in the SEC. Both marks are tops among SEC freshmen. Brittney Johnson nearly compiled a pair of triple-doubles over the weekend. The SEC’s leader in assists per set did eclipse the 40-assist mark for the 11th and 12th times this season. The Baton Rouge native also equaled a career-best with 12 kills at Kentucky to compile her 10th double-double of the season. Tania Schatow put together her best weekend of the season sparked by a season-best nine kills at Kentucky coupled with a season-high seven blocks at No. 21 Tennessee. Over her last seven matches, Schatow has chipped in 38 kills and 27 blocks. Madie Jones has contributed nine of her 12 double digit kill efforts in SEC action, while Michele Williams‘ 3.15 kills per set on a .325 hitting percentage check in ninth and tenth, respectively, in the SEC rankings. Angela Bensend will look to bounce back from a pair of negative hitting efforts. She enters the weekend 75 kills away from reaching 1,000 for her career. LSU wraps up its regular season home schedule against South Carolina [7 p.m., Friday] and No. 1 Florida [1 p.m., Sunday]. Following Sunday’s match, the Tigers will honor Bensend, Johnson and Schatow as part of Senior Day for their contributions to the program.