In an era of high-speed computers and data collection, statistics have become integral to modern-day sports. The LSU volleyball team is no stranger to the use of stats on paper to improve its game on the floor.
“Statistics are obviously something the coaches and I look at to get a basic understanding of our performance,” said LSU coach Fran Flory.
Halfway through the 2016 season, the Tigers are exceeding their 2015 numbers.
The 2015 volleyball unit struggled with offensive consistency and ended the season with a subpar .154 attack percentage — compared to the .220 number hit by its opponents.
This, coupled with a .297 assist percentage, led the team to a 9-20 (5-13 Southeastern Conference) record in 2015.
Now, LSU (5-8, 0-2 SEC) is hitting a .210 attack percentage compared to its opponents’ .216, and LSU’s assist percentage has also improved to .325.
Junior middle blocker Khourtni Fears has a .350 attack percentage, while senior counterpart Tiara Gibson is leading the team with a .667 assist percentage through her 48 sets played.
With regard to LSU’s serving game, the Tigers have 54 aces and 105 errors, putting them at pace with last season’s aces and errors totals.
This year’s team is relatively tied with its rivals in kills, errors committed, assists, digs and blocks. Yet opponents have had the upper hand on the Tigers as of late.
Despite improved attack and assist numbers, LSU has lost four of its past five matches.
To Flory, not capitalizing on their “opportunities” is one of the causes of the Tigers current four-match losing streak.
“If you compare our stats to the teams we’ve played, you would say we have certainly been in position to win a lot more games,” Flory said. “Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to seize our opportunities, partly due to our technique.”
This conundrum led Flory to tweak the team’s practices.
This week, LSU worked on technical changes and defensive sets to better suit its personnel on the floor.
Offensive aggression is another issue for the Tigers.
“I felt that we played too tentatively in the Arkansas game,” Gibson said. “We played on our heels and our opponent capitalized.”
Although stats are helpful to coaching staffs, the players do their best to look past the stat books and game results.
For the Tigers, their approach and consistency to practice and matches are the main focus moving forward.
“The key for us right now is to maintain,” Gibson said. “Maintain intensity at practice and stay with the process, and the results will come.”
Up next for LSU is the second of a three-match home stretch, when they take on Texas A&M Friday at 7 p.m. in the PMAC.

Gallery • 1 Photos

Ryan McCarble

LSU junior outside hitter Gina Tillis (12) serves the ball during the Tigers' 0-3 loss against the University of Arkansas on September 25, 2016 in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.