BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU volleyball team puts an end to the 2015 home schedule on Sunday afternoon, hosting the No. 19 Kentucky Wildcats at 1 p.m. inside the Maravich Center and streamed live on SEC Network+.
The final home contest for the Tigers this season is free to the general public as part of The Advocate’s “Geaux Free” promotion. The first 1,000 fans to attend the match will receive an LSU volleyball beanie hat, as the players will sign autographs following the match.
Sunday’s contest will be streamed live online through SEC Network+, which is available through WatchESPN, with commentators Lyn Rollins and Yvette Girouard calling all of the action. A link to the stream, as well as live stats will be available at LSUsports.net, with continuous updates through the team’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
The match marks the final home game for LSU’s four-member senior class of Emily Ehrle, Cati Leak, Katie Lindelow and Haley Smith, as the quartet will be honored immediately following the match for their dedication to the program during their careers. The team will also take some time out to honor Kentucky’s senior class before the match, while also making a presentation to the Blue Star Mothers of Louisiana in the culmination of their philanthropy project that collected household items that will be packaged and sent to military troops overseas.
Leak, Lindelow and Smith all began their careers in the 2012 season, while Ehrle joined the ranks after transferring from Texas Tech in 2013. During their tenure the Tigers have won 60 matches, while earning two NCAA tournament berths in that same time.
“The significance of senior day for us is our chance to honor them, but in regards to the actual competition, it’s just another match for them,” head coach Fran Flory said. “We understand that we want to leave our best effort on the court the last time we step foot in the Maravich Center, not only for them, but for all of us as well.”
All four have contributed in a host of ways as they embark on the final matches of their career over the next eight days, as Ehrle is having her best year as a Tiger this year with season highs in virtually every category. Lindlow, already an LSU graduate and on pace to earn that distinction again with a graduate degree has been an academic honor roll selection and an SEC Community Service pick.
Leak ends her career as just the sixth player ever to earn over 1,000 kills and digs in a single career in over 40 years of LSU volleyball, being an All-SEC performer and twice being an All-LSWA selection as well. Smith will leave as LSU’s all-time digs leader after achieving that feat at Arkansas two weeks ago, and will have three more matches to extend her record lead with 1,560 going into Sunday after earning 20 on Friday.
The Tigers take to the court Sunday looking to snap a six-match losing streak after falling in three sets to the 14th-ranked Florida Gators Friday in Baton Rouge. Kentucky comes into the match ranked 19th overall and sitting fourth overall in the conference.
LSU was able to push the Gators in spurts, running some quicker sets while on offense to keep Florida off balance during portions of the match. Although the visitors were able to pull away in the end, the match served as a good indicator of the depth and progression of some of the younger players on the squad.
Leading that charge was freshman Brittany Welsh. The freshman earned the start and registered a season-high nine kills on a new best .438 hitting percentage. Fellow freshman Olivia Beyer tied for the team lead in blocks with two, as she currently leads the team with 53 on the year, adding four kills and a service ace against the Gators.
“The young players have matured during the season, and they understand every match is a new opportunity,” Flory said. “They’ve stepped into every match with a great mentality, and I’m proud of them for going into every match that way.”
Lindsay Flory led the team in assists for the fifth time this season with 17 in the contest, while sophomore Cheyenne Wood had 14 with four digs and a kill, earning double figure assists in 23 matches this year.
The last time these two teams met earlier this month, the Wildcats were at the top of the league standings, but a few losses have dropped Kentucky from its perch, coming into the match 18-9 overall and 11-4 in the conference. LSU will be looking to snap a two-match losing streak to the Wildcats dating back to last season and this year, falling in four sets in the first meeting a few weeks ago.
For all of the latest news and information on Tiger volleyball, visit www.lsusports.net/volleyball. Fans can also follow the program on its social media outlets at www.Facebook.com/lsuvolleyball along with @lsuvolleyball and @lsucoachfran on Twitter and @lsuvb on Instagram.
AT A GLANCE – Kentucky
MATCH
LSU (9-17, 5-10 SEC) vs. Kentucky (18-9, 11-4 SEC)
DATE/TIME
Nov. 22 – 1 p.m. CT
FACILITY
Maravich Center
AVCA RANKINGS
LSU – NR
Kentucky – 19
MULTIMEDIA
LSUsports.net – live stats
LIVE STREAM
SEC Network+
TV
None