The LSU volleyball team’s arduous non-conference schedule finally concluded with back-to-back wins at the Carolina Classic in Chapel Hill, N.C. LSU’s wins against Western Michigan and Middle Tennessee State were the first consecutive wins since Auburn and Georgia in November of last year. “These two [matches] were must-have wins for us,” said LSU coach Fran Flory. “I’ve always been confident of this team – that’s why I set them up with this schedule.” The Tigers had their best statistical weekend of the season in Chapel Hill with a season-high 0.169 hitting clip for 126 kills and 19 service aces in the three matches. Junior middle blocker Desiree Elliott led the offensive push with 39 kills during the tournament – a season-high for Elliot in a weekend series – which included a 0.389 hitting percentage, 19 kills and a four-block performance in the final match against Western Michigan. Defensively, the Tigers posted 23 blocks while senior libero Meghan Mannari posted a trio of double-digit dig performances, racking up 37 overall. “Last night’s match, we were very efficient,” Flory said of the Western Michigan match. “Now we have an understanding of how to do what we need to do. We always knew what we had to do, but now we know how to do it.” Freshmen Cati Leak and Khourtni Fears continue to see plenty of time on the court in non-conference play. Leak is slowly emerging as this season’s breakout player, posting 19 kills and 24 digs in Carolina, which puts her at 64 kills and 66 digs through the first nine games of her LSU career. “The impact the freshmen have had isn’t a surprise, but more of a welcomed addition,” Flory said. This is all despite the fact the Tigers have yet to steal as much as a set from any of the nation’s top teams. A loss in straight sets to host North Carolina puts LSU’s record at 0-5 against teams ranked in the top 30. LSU lost in every major statistical category to North Carolina. The Tarheels posted a 0.294 hitting percentage and 41 kills compared to a season-low 0.053 and 30 kills for the Tigers. North Carolina also outdug LSU 49-44 and outblocked them 8-4. The Carolina Classic marks the end of non-conference play for the Tigers as they start Southeastern Conference play with a road trip to Tuscaloosa to play Alabama on Friday, followed by an appearance in Columbia for a match against South Carolina on Sunday.
 
 
 
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Contact Mike Gegenheimer at [email protected]