Baton Rouge, La. – LSU (7-11) volleyball swept South Carolina (12-8) Sunday afternoon in the PMAC, one day after the Tigers took down the Gamecoks in five sets.
The first set saw the lead swap between both teams, but LSU came out on top, winning 27-25. The Tigers fought hard in the second set, winning 25-22. LSU won the third set, 25-19, and clinched the match.
“In the end, we fought together better than we fought together,” said head coach Fran Flory. “Our team spirit and chemistry were the difference. Our team stayed together. The spirit and fight and mentality that our team had made the difference in these matches.”
The Tigers will stay at home for their next two matches as they face the Georgia Bulldogs on March 19 and 20 in the PMAC. Both matches will begin at 7 p.m. CT and be available for broadcast on SEC Network +.
Taylor Bannister led LSU in kills, finishing with 15. Paige Flickinger finished with nine of her own. Anita Anwusi and Hannah Brister each finished with five for the afternoon.
Karli Rose paced the match and led the Tigers with 26 assists. She also added 11 digs to finish with a double-double, her seventh of the season.
In addition to Rose, three other Tigers finished with double digit digs for the afternoon. Raigen Cianciulli finished with 14, Brister had 12 and Flickinger had 11 for the match.
How it Happened
Set 1
- LSU was able to take an early 4-2 lead over South Carolina.
- The Gamecocks were able to tie it at four, but back-to-back kills by Anita Anwusi gave the Tigers the lead back.
- Once again, South Carolina tied it up and the score was even at nine.
- The Tigers were able to take a 13-11 lead after a South Carolina service error.
- After a Taylor Bannister kill and service ace, the Tigers lead 15-12 as the Gamecocks called a timeout.
- South Carolina rallied out of the timeout and took the lead, 16-15, over the Tigers. LSU then called a timeout.
- LSU went on a 4-1 scoring run to take the lead back, 19-17.
- The Tigers continued to hold their lead. South Carolina called a timeout as it trailed LSU, 22-18.
- The Gamecocks pulled within one, trailing 22-21 as the set inched closer to a finish.
- The teams traded points and eventually were tied at 25.
- LSU took the lead back and won the set, 27-25.
Set 2
- The Tigers took a quick 3-1 lead to start the second set.
- After a block by Whitney Foreman, LSU extended its lead to four, up 5-1 over South Carolina.
- The Gamecocks were able to mount a comeback, and trailed LSU 8-6.
- After a service ace by Hannah Brister, LSU led South Carolina 13-9.
- The Gamecocks closed the gap, but the Tigers still led, 17-14.
- LSU started to pull away, extending its lead to five. The Tigers led 19-14.
- LSU held off the South Carolina comeback and won the set, 25-22.
Set 3
- LSU started out fast, taking an early 4-1 lead.
- A kill by Paige Flickinger and an ace by Bannister gave LSU a 10-4 lead, forcing the Gamecocks to call a timeout.
- The Tigers continued to extend their lead as it was up on South Carolina, 13-6.
- The Gamecocks closed the gap a bit, but LSU still led 17-11.
- South Carolina rallied back and trailed by two, 18-16.
- LSU eventually held on to win the set, 25-19, and swept the Gamecocks.