The LSU volleyball team defended the zero last weekend.
 
The Tigers and their perfect 2010 campaign stayed alive as Southeastern Conference foes Auburn and Georgia fell victim to LSU in the PMAC.
 
No. 19 LSU (11-0, 2-0) beat the Bulldogs, 3-0, on Sunday to keep a goose egg in the loss
column.
 
“We have this thing called ‘defend the zero,'” said senior setter Brittney Johnson. “We’re enjoying being undefeated. We came into the season trying to be the best that we could be.”
 
The Tigers held the upper hand for the majority of the three sets against Georgia.
 
LSU out-blocked the Bulldogs, 10-5, and recorded 53 digs.
 
“We were in system almost every ball,” said LSU coach Fran Flory. “Very few balls did we not get in front of the attack line and create something. We need to continue that for sure.”
 
Senior outside hitter Angela Bensend led the team with 14 kills and 15 points.
 
“Our offense is working really well, and we’re creating [opportunities],” Flory said. “We were able to do some good things within our offense.”
 
Georgia (8-5, 0-2) held its biggest lead, 16-13, in the third set.
 
But the Tigers roared back with key blocks, a kill by senior outside hitter Tania Schatow and a match-winning kill by junior middle blocker Michele Williams to take the final set, 25-21.
 
“We came out strong and no matter what, when we go back into the locker room after two games, we act like its the third game,” said sophomore defensive specialist Sam Delahoussaye. “We never really stop the intensity.”
 
Johnson contributed with 37 of the team’s 43 assists. LSU entered the weekend already leading the SEC in assists.
 
This season has been LSU’s hottest start since 1991 when the Tigers began 12-0 and finished with a 35-2 record and a Final Four appearance.
 
“We’re not trying to be undefeated, but it’s nice to have a zero at the end of it,” Delahoussaye said.
Flory was an assistant coach for the Tigers in 1991.
 
“You can’t really compare [the teams],” Flory said. “It was a completely different style of play. That team had a bunch of offensive weapons. This team is a defensive-minded team, and we’re going to play defense and keep the ball in play long enough.”
 
The 13th-year coach said the veterans on the team have been crucial to the hot start.
 
“It speaks volumes of their preparation from January of last year to today,” Flory said. “It also speaks volumes of the upperclassmen and the way they welcomed the young kids.”
 
LSU started its SEC slate off on a good note Friday night against Auburn.
 
LSU took the match, 3-1, as Angela Bensend tied a career-best with 22 kills.
 
Bensend’s kills and 18 digs notched the Plano, Texas, native her fourth double-double of the season.
Flory said her team exceeded expectations during the weekend’s two conference wins.
 
“We’re a little better than I thought we were [going to be],” Flory said.
 
 
 
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Contact Michael Lambert at [email protected]