The LSU volleyball team improved its record to 5-1 this season by capturing the Billiken Invitational championship Saturday at the University of St. Louis. The Tigers went 3-0 in the tournament, defeating Texas A&M 3-1, No. 22 Minnesota 3-0 and host St. Louis 3-1. LSU opened the tournament Friday by handing Texas A&M its first loss of the season. The Tigers lost the first game of the match in extra points 30-32 before winning three consecutive games 36-34, 30-23 and 30-16 to seal the victory. Sophomore Marina Skender led the match with 20 kills in addition to recording seven aces and 10 digs. On the defensive side, senior libero Kassi Mikulik led the Tigers with 14 digs while Skender and senior Daniela Romero added 10 each. LSU coach Fran Flory said the performance of the underclassmen is a sign of things to come for LSU volleyball. “There’s some key players that are young,” she said. “I think it shows. We’re a balanced team that is gonna have success for the next few years. We’re not gonna be a flash in the pan.” The match that should have been the Tigers’ toughest on paper seemed to be the team’s easiest victory of the tournament. LSU swept No. 22 Minnesota on Saturday afternoon 30-18, 31-29 and 30-23 to improve to 2-0 for the weekend. The win, which dropped the Golden Gophers to 1-1 on the season, was the first by the Tigers over a nationally ranked opponent since a 3-2 upset of No. 8 Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl Classic early last season. Skender once again led the Tigers with 13 kills against Minnesota. Senior Melody Clark and Freeman followed with 12 and 11 kills, respectively. Mikulik recorded 15 digs in the match, and DeGirolamo and Freeman both posted a team-best three blocks. The Tigers showed little to no let down in the team’s final match of the tournament against St. Louis, handing the Billikens their third loss of the tournament 30-17, 31-29, 28-30 and 30-18. Clark led the LSU offensive attack in the match, posting a career-best 18 kills. Mikulik led the team with 20 digs. The Billiken Invitational named Romero Most Valuable Player and Freeman to the All-Tournament Team. Romero led the Tigers to a .312 hitting percentage for the tournament, while averaging 13.73 assists and 1.45 kills per game herself. Freeman averaged 2.73 kills per game, and also recorded 10 blocks during the tournament.
—–Contact Tyler Batiste at [email protected]