GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The LSU volleyball team will face another tough challenge during its first run through the SEC Eastern Division when the Tigers take on No. 13 Florida Sunday from the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. First serve is slated for 12:30 p.m. CDT and the match will be televised on SUN Sports Florida [DIRECTV Channel 653].
Last time out, LSU (11-5, 4-2 SEC) snapped a two-match losing streak with a 3-1 victory over South Carolina, while Florida (12-3, 5-1 SEC) countered with its third straight win during a sweep of Arkansas.
The Gators have picked up wins in 32 of the previous 46 meetings in the all-time series. LSU’s most recent success against UF came when the six-time defending SEC Western Division champions won both matches in 2009 to claim the overall SEC crown.
Florida is sparked by a trio of seniors Cassandra Anderson, Kristy Jaeckel and Kelly Murphy. Jaeckel and Murphy have not only been named SEC Offensive Player of the Week, but AVCA National Player of the Week on the season.
Jaeckel has posted 3.53 kills per set to rank sixth in the SEC, but has boosted her average to the league’s second-highest clip at 4.24 spikes per frame during conference play. She has posted double digit kills during her last 10 outings.
Murphy, the reigning SEC Player of the Year, is among the SEC’s Top 10 in three different categories, including aces per set [0.46 – 2nd], hitting percentage [.320 – 8th] and assists per set [5.69 – 10th]. She is joined by Tangerine Wiggs, who has connected for a .336 hitting percentage to rank fourth-best in the SEC.
Defensively, Taylor Unroe has stepped into UF’s libero role. The freshman has secured 3.46 digs per set to check in at the No. 8 position in the SEC. On the front row, Betsy Smith is third in the SEC en route to 1.10 blocks per set.
“Florida is a great team and extremely talented in every spot on the court,” head coach Fran Flory said. “They have a veteran group and are very tough on their home court. They have already earned signature wins against some of the nation’s elite teams and have a fantastic shot to do some special things later in the season.”
The Tigers have ridden the right-arms of Desiree Elliott, Madie Jones and Michele Williams. The trio has accounted for 522 kills, 67 percent of LSU’s total on the season. They teamed up to rack up 50 of the team’s 62 spikes Friday during the Tigers four-set triumph over South Carolina.
Elliott matched a season-high 17 kills on a .343 hitting ratio in Friday’s tilt versus South Carolina to secure her 12th consecutive double digit spike performance. Her 3.56 kills per set are fifth in the SEC.
Jones cranked 15 kill Friday against the Gamecocks and has reached 10 or more kills during her eight of her last nine efforts. Like UF’s Jaeckel, Jones has elevated her play in SEC action. She has belted 4.00 kills per set which is fourth-highest in the conference.
Williams hammered home a season-best 18 kills her last time out at South Carolina. The Magnolia, Texas, native continues her charge towards 1,000 career kills and enters Sunday’s match 73 spikes away from becoming the 18th player in program history to reach that feat. She also has recorded 1.11 blocks per set, third-best in the SEC.
With 50 assists and 12 digs Friday at South Carolina, Malorie Pardo notched her team-leading sixth double-double of the season. It was her first double dip since LSU’s SEC opener at Ole Miss back on Sept. 16. The freshman setter has conducted the Tigers to a .238 hitting percentage and her 11.65 assists per set are second on the SEC leaderboard.
LSU’s defense is coming off an astounding 84 digs during its four-set victory over the Gamecocks. Meghan Mannari and Lauren Waclawczyk reeled in 19 digs each. For Waclawczyk, it was a season-high. The Tigers also are the SEC’s top defensive unit and has held their opponents to a .149 hitting percentage.
“Our team has to just go play its match the best we can and see what happens at the end of the day,” Flory said. “We feel like we have some things that will work, and we’ll have to seize our offensive opportunities when they present themselves. Defensively, we’re going to have to attempt to challenge them because they play so far above the net. We’ll be focused and hopefully be ready for another tough road match.”
Live audio and live stats for Sunday’s match are available free-of-charge at LSUsports.net inside the Geaux Zone. Fans also can follow in-match updates via the program’s social media outlets at http://twitter.com/lsuvolleyball or LSU Volleyball on Facebook.