The LSU volleyball team was able to remain in fifth place in the SEC standings entering Wednesday, despite splitting its last two games.
LSU (9-11, 5-4 SEC) had a major let down on October 21, dropping in straight sets to Texas a&M in College Station. The Tiger offense could not get going, hitting the 20 point mark in just one of the three sets. No Tiger had double-digit kills, with Gina Tillis leading the team with eight.
Thankfully, the Tigers bounced back with a gutty 3-2 win over Auburn on October 25. The match saw sets three and four go deep into tiebreak with LSU winning the fourth set 29-27 and then Auburn taking the fifth set 33-31. LSU would take the game in the fifth set, 15-11.
Unlike against a&M, LSU put up better offensive totals with three players recording double digit kills in Tillis (19), Cati Leak (17), and Mimi Eugene. LSU also had Leak, Eugene and Katie Lindelow post double digit digs.
The game on Wednesday Friday night kicks off what is arguably the toughest and without a doubt the most important stretch of the season for the Tigers. The toughness extends not just the opponents but also the location. Four of the next five games are away from Baton Rouge.
As for opponents, LSU will face the top two teams in the conference in Kentucky on Friday and Missouri, Sunday in Baton Rouge. Still, the matchup Wednesday against Tennessee, which is one spot behind LSU in the SEC standings should be challenging. Games against Ole Miss and Arkansas, both of which have five losses to LSU’s four, are two more opponents that LSU must beat in order just to stay in the top-half of the conference standings.
Throughout the conference season LSU has been playing a little better than .500. That was fine at the start, but the Tigers absolutely have to start stringing together now, against the top schools in the conference, late in the season.