The LSU volleyball team seemed well on its way to sweeping the Tiger Classic until running into Miami on Saturday night.
The Tigers (3-1) won their first three matches before being outlasted 3-2 by Miami in the fourth and final match of the tournament.
Freshman outside hitter Helen Boyle paced LSU with 16 kills, while sophomore middle blocker Desiree Elliott sent home 15 and junior outside hitter Madie Jones added 14.
“The arrival of Helen Boyle on campus was a big deal for us,” said LSU coach Fran Flory. “We don’t use her a bunch, but when we do, she comes through for us.
Senior outside hitter Christine Williamson racked up 17 kills for the Hurricanes, seven of which came in the first set.
Flory said the defense did a good job of adjusting and stopping the power shots, but were later exploited by “off-speed, out-of-system time.”
The Tigers were backed by a loud, supportive crowd both Friday and Saturday nights.
“The fans here have always been great and the drive now is to get the student body behind it,” Flory said. “Even the Miami coaches were saying they weren’t used to this on.”
During Friday night’s match against Louisiana-Lafayette, freshman Malorie Pardo helped the Tigers to a .638 team hitting percentage, an LSU single-match record.
“I believe in all my hitters, so it’s easy to execute when the passes are there and they’re all up,” Pardo said.
Elliott led the Tigers with 14 kills against the Ragin’ Cajuns.
“From the start, we were playing very fast,” Elliot said. “They lit the fire under me and I took off with it.
Saturday morning, the Tigers continued their hot start with a 3-0 sweep of Jacksonville State (25-9, 25-14, 25-12).
LSU scored 14 service aces in the match, seven of which came from junior libero Meghan Mannari, a career-best for her.
LSU heads to New Mexico St. next weekend to face Arkansas-Little Rock, Grambling and New Mexico St. The Tigers don’t have another home match until Sunday, Sept. 25. 
 
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Contact Albert Burford at [email protected]