The LSU volleyball team’s woes continued Wednesday as it fell to Georgia in a grueling five-set match in the PMAC.
With the loss, the Tigers fell to an overall record of 6-10 record and 2-5 in the Southeastern Conference.
“You have to credit Georgia,” said LSU coach Fran Flory. “They truly out-hustled us, out-played us and out-worked us tonight.”
Both teams struggled to pull away throughout the match.
The first set was no exception seeing 10 lead changes and 22 ties before the Tigers finally won 29-27. Sophomore outside hitter Helen Boyle and junior middle blocker Desiree Elliott led LSU, combining for 14 of the Tigers’ 21 kills.
The Tigers came out strong in the second set, jumping out to a 16-11 lead. But the Bulldogs came back with a fury, going on an 8-1 run to take the lead. LSU was able to fight off three set points to even it up at 24, but Georgia proved to be too strong, winning the set 26-24.
The Tigers responded with a comeback of their own in the third. After falling behind 18-12, they posted a 7-1 rally to tie the game before going on to take the set, 25-23.
Senior outside hitter Madie Jones came alive in the third set, picking up 10 kills in 16 attempts with only one attacking error.
She dominated again in the fourth set picking up seven more kills and three digs.
“We definitely relied on [Jones] a lot,” Elliott said. “She was on fire tonight.”
But it wasn’t enough, as the Bulldogs came away with a 25-23 victory to force a fifth set.
“I was disappointed that we couldn’t finish that fourth set,” Flory said. “We played like we were the team down instead of controlling things and feeling like we could finish plays.”
Georgia was dominant in the match-deciding set, scoring the first four points. LSU was unable to respond as the Bulldogs went on the take the match with a 15-6 victory.
Georgia dominated LSU in blocking, an area in which the Tigers have thrived for most of the season. LSU was only able to pick up seven blocks to Georgia’s 18.
“Our blocking was really undisciplined,” Flory said. We knew what they were going to do, and we couldn’t get our kids to get in front of them.”
Senior defensive specialist Meghan Mannari made her long-awaited return to the court after a high ankle sprain forced her to sit out for the past three weekends.
After playing in a limited role for the first three sets, she took on the libero role in the fourth, replacing senior defensive specialist Sam Delahoussaye.
“I’m very happy to have Meghan back on the court,” Jones said. “She brings a sense of energy and positivity and also calmness and direction.”
The Tigers will look to bounce back on Sunday at 1 p.m. in their rematch with South Carolina. The last time the two teams met, the Gamecocks won a tightly contested match in five sets.
‘They truly out-hustled us, out-played us and out-worked us tonight.’
