LSU volleyball coach Fran Flory said this weekend would be “the defining point” of the LSU volleyball team’s season.
“This weekend will certainly be a challenge, but I think the turning point for this season begins Friday,” Flory said in a news release before the tournament. “We have a chance to take all of the positives from what we just did and carry that over into what I think is the defining point of our season.”
LSU (4-7, 0-0 Southeastern Conference) finished its nonconference portion of the season in top form. The Lady Tigers completed a sweep at the Days Inn & Suites Lobo Invitational in New Mexico on Saturday evening.
In its first match Friday, LSU toppled LIU-Brooklyn (1-10, 0-0 Northeast Conference) in three straight sets, 25-18, 25-22, 25-11. After a two match losing streak, the Tigers bounced back to complete their second win of the year with a seasonal-best hitting percentage of .244 with 43 kills to only 14 attack errors against the Blackbirds.
The Tigers rode their momentum from Friday’s match into Saturday — going 2-0 on the last day of the tournament.
Saturday morning, LSU defeated Cal. St. Northridge (1-10, 0-0 Big West Conference) in another three-set affair, 25-21, 25-21, 31-29. The CSUN Matadors fought hard but couldn’t break LSU in the end.
Six hours later, the Tigers were back on the floor for their final match of the weekend.
In five tough sets, LSU defeated tournament-host New Mexico on Saturday night to capture the tournament’s title, 25-23, 25-20, 18-25, 23-25, 15-11.
LSU was led by senior defensive specialist Haley Smith, who was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
LSU will be back on the court this Friday, opening SEC competition against the Arkansas Razorbacks at 8 p.m. in the PMAC.
You can follow Christian Boutwell on Twitter @CBoutwell_TDR.