It wasn’t pretty, but the LSU volleyball team snapped its three-match losing streak Saturday when the Tigers defeated Arkansas (25-20, 14-25, 25-27, 25-20, 15-12) in a grueling, five-set match.
The Tigers stepped out to an early lead in the first set, but the Razorbacks gained a huge momentum shift halfway through the set and from then on, the two squads duked it out on the PMAC court.
“The bottom line is, this team finally fought through a match and believed at the end and we were able to make some plays,” said LSU coach Fran Flory. “Certainly Arkansas gave us some points at the end and had some huge errors in key situations, and fortunately for us they did, but I think our kids responded.”
Flory said Sunday’s match was a must-win for LSU to maintain any hope of extending its season into December after the Tigers failed to produce a win in two weeks following losses to Auburn, Alabama and Missouri.
“This had to be,” Flory said. “We had to get this match. There was so much pressure on us to find out how to get this match. We played with a lot of pressure today and I’m proud of the way they responded.”
Flory said she didn’t explicitly tell her team Sunday was a must-win match, but senior middle blocker Desiree Elliott said after the game that it didn’t need to be said out loud. The Tigers were heading down a bad track and it was their job to right the ship before it became too late.
Elliott didn’t start against the Razorbacks on Sunday because Flory said she didn’t feel confident in her ability to keep the high tempo needed in the match. Elliott has struggled in recent weeks, according to Flory, but appeared to have turned a corner Sunday with 10 kills, good for a .300 hitting clip.
Flory credited Elliott’s play in the match as a key factor in why the Tigers were able to secure a victory. The quick change in tempo off the bench set LSU apart from Arkansas in crucial points on the afternoon.
“Volleyball is my job,” Elliott said. “My coach is my boss and whenever my name is called, I go out and do my job. Fortunately today, I performed well for my team.”
Despite Elliott coming through for the Tigers, LSU still finished with a disappointing .170 hitting clip after committing 30 errors — the most since the team took on Baylor back in September.
Flory said it was difficult to get around the Razorbacks’ middle block and it forced the Tigers to resort to second and third options.
“Their blockers were doing a great job of taking away our first and second shots, and we were having to go to our third option and were not real comfortable in third options and there were a lot of errors,” Flory said.

Gallery • 10 Photos

Lauren Duhon

LSU sophomore setter Malorie Pardo (14) and freshman middle bloacker Briana Holman (13) attempt to block Arkansas freshman outside hitter Savannah Voelzke on Sunday, October 27, 2013 in the SEC match-up at the PMAC.