Overall Record: 14-7
SEC Record: 7-4
SEC Standings: 1st West
Last Week: 1-1
Oct. 21 – Alabama [W, 3-0 – 25-15, 25-17, 25-18]
Oct. 23 – Ole Miss [L, 3-2 – 25-12, 20-25, 25-16, 31-33, 13-15]
This Week:
Oct. 26 – at Arkansas [7 p.m., ESPNU]
Oct. 30 – at Mississippi State [1 p.m., CST]
Nominee for Offensive Player of the Week
Desiree Elliott, MB, So., Cypress, Texas
LSU received a remarkable weekend in all facets of the game from Elliott as the reigning SEC Freshman of the Year powered home 4.75 kills per set on a .338 hitting percentage and provided 1.12 blocks per set. For the weekend, Elliott notched five or more kills during five of her eight sets playing only three rotations. She connected for a career-high 23 kills and added six blocks versus Ole Miss. The Cypress, Texas native also slapped 15 kills on a 591 hitting clip against Alabama. Elliott has reached 10 or more kills in 17 of her 19 appearances this season.
Totals for the Week
SP Kills Err Att PCT Assists Aces Digs BS BA TB Team * Hitting %
8 38 12 77 .338 1 0 3 1 8 9 .341
Nominee for Defensive Player of the Week
Meghan Mannari, DS, Jr., Frisco, Texas
Mannari notched another strong defensive weekend as LSU’s libero. She amassed 46 digs at an incredible 5.75 per set average. The Frisco, Texas, native stretched out for 32 digs against Ole Miss highlighted by an 11-scoop opening frame. The 32 digs for Mannari was her second-highest career output. She also distributed a career-best six assists during the five-set affair with the Rebels. Mannari, the SEC’s digs leader in league matches, added 14 scoops versus Alabama. She has secured 10 or more digs in 18 of her 20 appearances on the season.
Totals for the Week
SP Kills Err Att PCT Assists Aces Digs BS BA TB Team * Hitting %
8 0 0 0 .000 7 1 46 0 0 0 .341
Nominee for Freshman of the Week
Malorie Pardo, S, Fr., League City, Texas
Pardo turned in a pair of phenomenal efforts over the weekend. She handed out 13.38 assists per set, close to 1.50 helpers above her season average and tacked on 2.25 digs per frame. Her performances lifted Pardo to the SEC’s lead in assists per set. Pardo distributed 47 assists to equal a SEC-best for a three-set match on the season and fueled the Tigers to a .468 hitting percentage versus Alabama. The League City, Texas, native matched her career-high with 60 assists and sprawled out for 14 digs for her team-leading eighth double-double of the season during the Ole Miss match. She sparked five hitters to 10 or more kills, the last time LSU accomplished that feat was during a five-set upset of No. 13 Tennessee back in 2006.
Totals for the Week
SP Kills Err Att PCT Assists Aces Digs BS BA TB Team * Hitting %
8 0 0 1 .000 107 0 18 0 0 0 .341
Notes on the Tigers
The LSU volleyball team swept Alabama before dropping a five-set decision to Ole Miss to split its matches over the weekend. The Tigers are 7-4 in the league and carry a one-match lead in SEC Western Division race. LSU’s offense racked up 16.50 kills per set connected for a .341 hitting percentage behind a pair of Malorie Pardo magnificent efforts. She handed out 13.38 assists per set, close to 1.50 helpers per frame above her season average, to vault into the SEC lead in that category. The League City, Texas, native handed out 60 assists to match a career-high versus Ole Miss before her 47-helper effort against Alabama equaled a SEC season-best for a three-set match. Five players hammered home over 2.25 kills per set highlighted by Desiree Elliott‘s 4.75 spikes per stanza. She blasted a career-high 23 kills against Ole Miss and also tacked on 1.12 blocks per set. Madie Jones slapped 20 kills in the Ole Miss match to reach the 20-spike plateau for third time in her career, while Michele Williams was the most efficient LSU attacker with 26 kills on a blistering .535 hitting clip. LSU’s back row was led by Meghan Mannari as the junior libero corralled an astounding 5.75 digs per set. She racked up 32 digs versus Ole Miss, her second-highest performance as a Tiger. During the Alabama match, Lauren Waclawczyk eclipsed Detra Brown (1983-86) for sole possession of eighth place on LSU’s all-time digs list. LSU embarks on a four-match road trip at Arkansas [Wednesday at 7 p.m. televised by ESPNU] and Mississippi State [Sunday at 1 p.m. televised by CSS/CST]. The Tigers have collected a 154-51 record and claimed six consecutive SEC Western Division titles since 2005. LSU also has tallied the nation’s 13th-best winning percentage and is one of 18 programs nationally to secure six straight NCAA Tournament appearances going back to 2005.