The LSU volleyball team continues to struggle and is stumbling into the postseason.
Arkansas shut out the Tigers 3-0 in Fayetteville, Ark. on Wednesday to drop LSU to 11-17 on the season. LSU fell to 6-9 in the Southeastern Conference with the loss.
For the Tigers, the loss marks the third consecutive match in which the team has failed to record a single victory. Georgia and Florida each blanked the Tigers 3-0 last weekend.
Arkansas (21-5, 14-1 SEC) had already wrapped up the SEC Western Division title – the third consecutive title for the Lady ‘Backs.
This was the second meeting between the two schools this season. Arkansas defeated LSU 3-1 in Baton Rouge earlier this season.
In game one, Arkansas prevailed over the Tigers, 30-23. The Lady ‘Backs jumped out to a 10-3 lead in front of the home crowd to begin the contest. With UA leading 16-7, LSU battled back behind a 6-1 run to cut the lead to 17-13. But that would be the closest LSU would get to the lead in game one. Arkansas used a 7-1 run to extend the lead to 24-14. After a small LSU run to cut the lead to six, the two teams traded points until Arkansas ended the game.
LSU saw its first lead of the match in game two. The Tigers led the Lady ‘Backs 14-10 halfway through the match, but a 6-1 Arkansas run propelled the Lady ‘Backs into the lead for the remainder of the match. LSU battled late, pulling within two points of the Lady ‘Backs 29-27, but Arkansas scored the next point to take the game, 30-27.
The Tigers fought hard in game three in an attempt to extend the match. The game saw 11 ties and four lead changes before its conclusion.
Arkansas led the Tigers 8-5 early. But the Tigers used a 7-1 run to jump ahead of the Lady ‘Backs, 12-9. Arkansas countered with a 7-1 run of its own to reclaim the lead from the Tigers. LSU tied the game at 21 behind a 4-1 run and the two teams battled the rest of the game for the lead. With the game tied at 29, though, Arkansas pulled ahead by scoring the next two points to win the game, 31-29.
Regan Hood led the Tigers on the evening with 12 kills and eight digs. Lauren Leaumont recorded 11 kills and 11 digs for a double-double.
For Arkansas, Sara Kincaid dominated the Tigers with 16 kills and five digs. Roberta Tarnauskaite set up Kincaid all night, recording 40 assists along with eight digs.