A team’s chemistry often proves to be more important than any stats or numbers when trying to win games.
While LSU has won the statistical battle throughout most of the season, the team has yet to have consistent wins. Players and coaches say that stats only play a small role.
Finding that rhythm on offense will be key for LSU going forward.
“We started off talking about stats,” assistant coach Sarah Rumely said. “Now we preach that we just need to worry about our side of the net.”
Rumely is not worried about the talent on the court or the ability to bury the ball against any opponent, instead she is trying to get her team to minimize errors.
“We are always looking to produce kills and minimize errors,” Rumely said. “That is the goal for every game.”
Since stats are not producing wins, Rumely says it all comes down to chemistry on the court.
“The rhythm comes from all three contexts of play,” Rumely said. “The passer putting the ball in the setters hands, the setter being able to create for our attackers and our attackers having good timing and power to accelerate through the ball.”
Rumely also says that the process will flow better if the setters and hitters find that connection that has been missing through parts of the games.
As Rumely is looking for rhythm, sophomore outside hitter and kills leader Taylor Bannister is looking to make it a reality.
“Coach [Flory] says that our offense and the way we hit is bland and repetitive,” Bannister said. “It’s hard to find connections with our certain pace and height on the court.”
Bannister shares in the struggle of the Tigers this year, looking good in the stat book but not in the win column.
“The most frustrating thing right now is the coaches telling us that we are a good team,” Bannister said. “But we keep losing.”
Bannister knows it will be an uphill climb to get wins in the SEC, but she looks forward to the challenge.
“This is the last week to get all the bad stuff out before SEC play,” Bannister said. “I feel like we will be better this weekend.”
While Bannister is the go-to weapon on offense, Rumely looks to other players to keep the rhythm intact.
“Being creative will throw opposing defenses off and this all starts in the middle,” Rumely said. “Our middles can pick opposing teams apart with their speed and that makes everything else easier.”
According to Rumely, finding a way to keep the offense rolling without relying on Bannister too heavily will improve the team as a whole.
Rumely is not looking at statistics to obtain wins throughout the season.
“Bannister’s ability to rotate through all six positions and make an impact is impressive,” Rumely said. “But our middle attack is the key for the whole offense. If they can get rolling, the wins will come.”
