The LSU volleyball team’s two-game winning streak was short lived.
The Tigers (7-12, 2-6 Southeastern Conference) followed up back-to-back conference wins against Ole Miss and Georgia with back-to-back conference losses against Florida and South Carolina on Friday and Sunday, respectively.
LSU fell in scores of 15-25, 20-25 and 11-25 to the No. 9 Gators on Friday in the PMAC.
“I thought we did some really good things throughout the match,” LSU head coach Fran Flory said. “We controlled their offense a little bit more than other teams they’ve faced have been able to. Unfortunately, we did not have any offense tonight and were poor passing against a really good team.”
Junior outside hitter Gina Tillis paced the Tigers in the match, as she recorded 12 kills for her ninth double-digit kill performance in the last 12 matches.
Senior middle blocker Tiara Gibson finished the night with six kills, the second-most on the team.
LSU played host to the South Carolina on Sunday afternoon in the PMAC. The Tigers fell to the Gamecocks in four sets.
“At times I thought our serving wasn’t good enough,” said sophomore outside hitter Toni Rodriguez. “Not everyone was doing their job in the first set, so that threw us off a little too.”
Rodriguez recorded eight kills and a .208 hitting percentage.
LSU came back to take the second set, tying the match at one wina piece heading into halftime.
“The second set showed what we’re capable of, but our trouble right now is starting matches off on a strong note,” Rodriguez said. “A lot of times we will lack rhythm in the first set, and then we have to play catch-up for the rest of the match.”
In the South Carolina match, Tillis attached a conference-best, 19-kill performance. She also accounted for nine of the team’s 53 digs.
A win in the second set was all the Tigers were able to muster, as they fell to the Gamecocks in the next two sets at 21-25 and 22-25.
“This match was decided by the fact that South Carolina had 71 digs to our 53,” Flory said. “I rarely have teams that get out digged, and that falls on the attitude of our defense.”
“I thought our young kids had a really good match,” Flory added. “Sydney Mukes in particular really stepped up with some nice swings. Gina continues to carry this team, but it’s disappointing that we couldn’t put things together as a team.”

Gallery • 10 Photos

Ryan McCarble

LSU sophomore defensive specialist Katie Kampen (9) serves the ball during the Tigers' 3-1 loss against the University of South Carolina on October 16, 2016 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.