The LSU volleyball team had to scratch and claw to come out victorious over a scrappy Arkansas squad.
LSU (13-4, 4-2 SEC) defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks (12-6, 2-4 SEC) in five sets, but struggled to get it done. After winning the first set, LSU went on to drop the next two sets before surging back to come out victorious.
The Tigers found themselves back-pedaling for most of the game and scrambling to find a rhythm after Arkansas began to assert itself. LSU did not play its most complete game of the season, but managed to do enough to escape a scare.
“Number one, I thought we started with great intensity and then we got this big lead, and we kind of backed out and though it was going to be easy,” coach Fran Flory said following Sunday’s victory. “We didn’t play clean volleyball, but we won the match and that’s all that matters.”
LSU has proved thus far to have the potential to be a force in the Southeastern Conference, but matches similar to this one shows some aspects of improvement needed to reach another level.
“We have to clean up our side,” Flory said. “We have to get better. We’re going to use this film and we’ll improve to be cleaner and better next match.”
Similar to what has been the key to past wins, LSU relied on a balanced attack to weather Arkansas’ run and stay alive. Key contributors from the match were freshman middle blocker Taylor Bannister with 22 kills, Sophomore Jacqui Armer with 17 kills and Senior Gina Tillis with 11 kills.
With this victory, LSU extends its undefeated winning record at home to 4-0. The Tigers will be traveling to Auburn, Alabama, on Friday before hosting four consecutive conference games.