Overall Record: 18-11
SEC Record: 11-8
SEC Standings: 1st West
Last Week: 0-2
Nov. 18 – at No. 16 Kentucky [L, 3-0 – 15-25, 19-25, 21-25]
Nov. 20 – at No. 14 Tennessee [L, 3-0 – 19-25, 18-25, 15-25]
This Week:
Nov. 26 – Arkansas [1:30 p.m.]
Notes on the Tigers
Despite dropping a pair of decisions to No. 16 Kentucky and No. 14 Tennessee, the LSU volleyball team claimed a share of its seventh consecutive SEC Western Division championship. The Tigers can secure the division title outright with a victory over Arkansas [Saturday at 1:30 p.m.]. The run of seven straight SEC Western Division crowns is the league’s second-longest streak only behind Florida’s 14-year run on top of the SEC’s Eastern Division from 1995-2008. LSU’s offense struggled to a .108 hitting percentage for the weekend playing without Madie Jones, the team’s leader in kills per set. Jones is anticipated to return to the lineup for the Arkansas match. Michele Williams turned in a team-high 3.83 kills per set, while Helen Boyle and Desiree Elliott tacked on 2.67 kills per frame. With a 13-spike effort at Kentucky, Williams passed Meagan Davis (1998-2001) to move into sole possession of 16th place on the program’s all-time kills list. Elliott had her run of 10 consecutive matches with double figure kills come to a close at No. 16 Kentucky. The reigning SEC Freshman of the Year bounced back with a team-leading 10 kills at No. 14 Tennessee. Boyle has found her offensive rhythm and ripped double digit spikes in four of her last six outings and notched 11 kills to go along with 14 digs at No. 16 Kentucky to produce her seventh double-double of the season. With 11.67 assists per set, Malorie Pardo enters the week second in the SEC and 12th nationally. Meghan Mannari continued to make her case for SEC Libero of the Year. She became the fourth player in program history to eclipse 500 digs for a season with a 10-scoop performance versus No. 14 Tennessee. LSU has collected a 158-55 record and its .742 winning percentage is 15th in the nation dating back to the 2005 season. The Tigers also are one of 18 programs nationally to secure six straight NCAA Tournament appearances since 2005.