The LSU volleyball team will get two more chances to extend its 10-game winning streak against Tennessee and Mississippi State this weekend, but the biggest challenge for the Tigers might be in their heads.
LSU (15-7, 10-3 Southeastern Conference) already has played Tennessee and Mississippi State during the Tigers’ current winning streak, defeating both teams three sets to none. Also, the Lady Volunteers (8-19, 1-12 SEC) and Bulldogs have a combined conference record of 2-24 and are riding a combined 10-match losing streak entering Friday.
LSU coach Fran Flory said not overlooking either team will be critical to the Tigers’ success this weekend, but freshman outside hitter Mimi Eugene said they don’t take any matches for granted.
“Being that we’ve played Tennessee and Mississippi State already, it’s not like we’re going to go in like, ‘Oh, we won already so it should be easy,’” Eugene said. “We’re going to keep the same mindset of accomplishing our goals for each match to make sure that we overcome and keep winning.”
The biggest test of the two may come on Sunday when LSU travels to Starkville. The Bulldogs (6-22, 1-12 SEC) have pulled off many big upsets at home before, Flory said, and almost beat the Tigers the last two times they’ve played there.
Flory said Mississippi State is just a different team when they’re at home.
“We’ve gotten our backs against the wall there a ton, down to match point and battled back and won,” Flory said. “At Mississippi State is always a challenge for every team in the league. Serving and passing in that building is a challenge. They dig a ton of balls. They’re very comfortable.”
The Tigers get a chance to play at 7:30 p.m. tonight in their own comfortable setting against Tennessee. Flory said the Lady Volunteers are playing better than they did when the Tigers traveled to Knoxville a month ago.
“I think we’ve got to be ready for a dogfight for sure,” Flory said. “Tennessee is a much- improved team from the one we played in Knoxville. They’ve stabilized their lineup. They have some people that are really playing very well. [Freshman outside hitter] Kendra Turner is one of them, a Louisiana native from right down the road. I’m sure she’ll have a big contingent.”
But Flory said she hopes the biggest contingent in the PMAC is the home crowd.
“I’m super hopeful that we have a nice crowd,” Flory said. “Only three more times you get to see this team. I pushed a lot of groups [to come to the match], and hopefully people will want to see this level of volleyball and hopefully we can provide a nice high level of volleyball for them.”