BATON ROUGE – The LSU volleyball team wraps up its September slate and faces its first ranked opponent of 2011 as No. 23 Tennessee visits the Maravich Center. First serve on Friday’s showdown between the SEC Western and Eastern Division leaders is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Fans are encouraged to take advantage of the Geaux Free program and receive free admission for every home match this season compliments of The Advocate.
The Tigers (10-3, 3-0 SEC) have opened SEC action with a 3-0 mark for the fourth time during the last six seasons most recently picking up a 3-0 sweep against Mississippi State, while Tennessee (11-2, 4-0 SEC) is coming off an impressive 3-2 road victory over then No. 6 Florida.
The Lady Vols are sparked by reigning SEC Offensive Player of the Week, Kelsey Robinson, who has slapped a SEC-leading 4.77 kills and third-best 0.48 aces per set. Mary Pollmiller has handed out 11.67 assists per set and fueled Tennessee to a .271 hitting percentage, both feats are second in the league.
In conference play, UT’s middle attack of DeeDee Harrison and Shealyn Kolosky have combined for 62 kills, an average of 4.13 spikes per set, on a .346 hitting ratio. Harrison also collected SEC Defensive Player of the Week after she recorded a career-best eight blocks versus South Carolina.
“We’re thankful to be home and be back into a normal routine,” head coach Fran Flory said. “No one was really able to settle in having only one match after three straight weekends on the road. Tennessee is a physical team, and the Florida win was huge for the program. This is going to be a big challenge for our young team.”
LSU continues to be led by Madie Jones, the SEC’s kills leader at 4.83 per set in conference play. She has connected for a .353 hitting percentage during her first three SEC matches and extended her run to six consecutive efforts with 10 or more kills.
Desiree Elliott and Michele Williams have combined for an additional 17 double figure kills performances. Elliott has knocked 3.53 kills per set to rank fifth, while Williams has notched 1.17 blocks per set to rank third in the SEC.
“Madie has really come through after non-conference play and really understanding the offensive load we need her to carry going forward,” Flory said. “She’s reaping the benefits when teams are really trying to defend and stop Michele and Desiree, our middles. The three of them need to be the ones that make us go, Madie has done a great job with shot selection. She is physical, being smart and really coming into her own.”
Malorie Pardo, the most recent SEC Freshman of the Week recipient, not only headlines the conference but checks in fifth nationally with 11.88 assists per set. She has posted five double-doubles and eclipsed the 50-assist plateau in five of her last eight matches.
“Malorie has come in and done a great job,” Flory said. “We talk about the impact she has had, she was very surprised but gracious about being named SEC Freshman of the Week because she felt like she didn’t play her best against Mississippi State. Our team was excited for her. The bottom line is she’s a freshman setter running a pretty fast and intricate offensive system. We found our rhythm in practice again and feel pretty comfortable. Consistency is the key, we need to make sure we make that happen.”
LSU’s back row of Sam Delahoussaye, Meghan Mannari and Lauren Waclawczyk paces the SEC having amassed 18.17 digs per set to start league play.
Mannari has upped her average by a dig per set in SEC action and strung together three consecutive matches of 20 scoops or more. The last LSU player to reach that feat was former All-American Elena Martinez back in 2008.
The trio has combined for 20 performances of 10 or more digs. They also have ripped 50 of LSU’s SEC-leading 89 aces on the season. Mannari at 0.50 aces per set and Waclawczyk at 0.35 aces per frame are first and sixth respectively in the SEC individual rankings.
“The three of them are not only great players, but they are great friends off the court,” Flory said. “It’s like the three amigos running around together. They’re very focused and very determined. The first set against Mississippi State they had 32 digs, that’s pretty impressive in just one set. Honestly, Malorie can’t be the setter she is without our back row putting the ball in her hands. We all understand that the first contact is key. Certainly, they will be ready for this weekend.”
Friday’s contest will serve as the program’s annual “Gold Match” and fans will have the opportunity to win two football tickets to Saturday’s game against Kentucky. It also is “Student Point Night” and the first 500 students will receive LSU volleyball “Gold Digger” t-shirts.
The first of four Friday Night Meal Deals featuring chicken marsala, pasta alfredo and a side of mixed vegetables will be available for $7 starting at 6 p.m. inside the Courtside Club located at the Northwest Corridor entrance of the arena.
Live video and live stats are offered through the Geaux Zone on LSUsports.net. In-match updates also are available via the program’s social media outlets at http://twitter.com/lsuvolleyball or LSU Volleyball on Facebook.
Fans can participate in the 2011 SEC Together We CAN Food Drive by bringing canned goods to the Maravich Center. The campaign concludes with both home matches this weekend. The canned goods collected by LSU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will benefit the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank.
For every home match, LSU volleyball also will be collecting books as part of its season-long book drive to benefit Everybody Reads Program through Volunteer in Public Schools. Fans are asked to bring new or used elementary level books to help local students. For more information, visit www.lsusports.net/geauxbooks.