Overall Record: 24-4
SEC Record: 15-4
SEC Standings: 2nd overall [1st West]
RPI Ranking: No. 15
AVCA Ranking: No. 17
Last Week: 1-1
Nov. 19 – South Carolina [W, 3-0 -25-16, 25-20, 25-19]
Nov. 21 – No. 1 Florida [L, 3-1 – 19-25, 31-33, 27-25, 13-25]
Nominee for Defensive Player of the Week
Meghan Mannari, DS, So., Frisco, Texas
Mannari strung together back-to-back defensive gems as LSU secured its sixth consecutive SEC Western Division crown. She racked up four digs a set, a full 1.30 scoops ratio above her season average. The Frisco, Texas, native equaled her career-high with 17 digs against No. 1 Florida to extend her run to six straight matches with 10 or more digs. Mannari tallied a pair of aces, one of which secured LSU’s 27-25 set three triumph over the Gators. She also posted two perfect passer ratings in her 25 attempts.
Totals for the Week
SP Kills Err. Att. Pct. Assists Aces Rec * Err Rec * Att Digs BS BA TB Team ** Hit Pct.
7 0 0 3 .000 2 2 0 25 28 0 0 0 .190
Nominee for Freshman of the Week
Desiree Elliott, MB, Fr., Cypress, Texas
Elliott posted a pair of strong efforts en route to 3.57 kills per set as LSU clinched its sixth straight SEC Western Division title. She ripped 17 kills, her second highest output of the season, against No. 1 Florida. The freshman middle blocker connected for all 17 kills on a .552 hitting percentage versus the Gators during the first three sets. She also tallied eight kills and four blocks during LSU’s 3-0 sweep of South Carolina. The Cypress, Texas, product has reached 10 or more kills in eight of her last 12 outings and tacked on 0.71 blocks along with 0.43 aces per set.
Totals for the Week
SP Kills Err. Att. Pct. Assists Aces Rec * Err Rec * Att Digs BS BA TB Team ** Hit Pct.
7 25 9 63 .254 1 3 1 1 4 0 5 5 .190
Notes on the Tigers
LSU notched its 14th sweep of the season against South Carolina and claimed its sixth consecutive SEC Western Division crown before losing a gritty 3-1 battle to No. 1 Florida over the weekend. The Tigers dropped one spot to No. 17 in the latest edition of the AVCA Top 25 poll. Following the Florida match, LSU celebrated Senior Day honoring Angela Bensend, Brittney Johnson and Tania Schatow. The trio has racked up 92 career wins and is on their way to leading LSU to its sixth straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Bensend tallied 12 kills and 15 digs to claim her eight double-double of the season against Florida. The All-SEC candidate has powered home 3.79 kills per set to rank second in the league. She enters Wednesday’s match 56 kills away from reaching 1,000 for her career. Johnson, the SEC’s leader in assists per set, has eclipsed the 40-helper plateau in four of her last five outings. She dished out 48 assists and added nine digs, just missing her 11th double-double of the season. Over her last nine matches, Schatow has strung together an impressive run with 45 kills and 31 blocks. Desiree Elliott continues to take the SEC by storm and has racked up 10 or more kills in eight of her last 12 matches. She ripped 17 kills, her second highest output of the season, against No. 1 Florida. Her .334 hitting percentage in conference play ranks eighth, while her 1.03 overall blocks per set are ninth in the SEC rankings. Both marks headline SEC freshmen. Madie Jones has contributed 10 of her 13 double digit kill efforts in SEC action, while Michele Williams‘ 3.12 kills per set are eighth-highest in the SEC. LSU’s back row continues to be strong with a 97 percent [1194-1233] serve-receive effort coupled with a 65 percent [869-1344] sideout efficiency during SEC action. Lauren Waclawczyk has reeled in 10 or more digs in 15 consecutive matches, while her 4.07 digs per set are sixth in the SEC rankings. The junior libero also has recorded an ace in 11 of her last 17 matches. Meghan Mannari has pieced together six straight double digit dig efforts to go along with 10 straight perfect passer ratings. She equaled a career-best 17 digs against No. 1 Florida. LSU concludes the regular season at Arkansas [7 p.m., Wednesday] and awaits its NCAA Tournament fate Sunday at 2 p.m. on ESPN News.