Injuries to a couple key players forced two freshmen into the lineup for the LSU Volleyball team (3-3) last weekend. The Tigers finished 1-2 in the Sugar Bowl Classic held in New Orleans.
The Tigers lost to Tulane in four games (30-20, 26-30, 31-29, 30-24) while No. 5 Nebraska beat the Tigers in just three games (30-22, 30-24, 30-22). LSU finished the weekend with a victory against the University of New Orleans in three games (30-28, 34-32, 30-28).
LSU coach Fran Flory said losing key players is frustrating but grants young players valuable experience. She said the injuries are keeping the team from establishing offense, however.
The Tigers were without the services of junior setter Beth Cowley for most the weekend. Cowley had surgery on her wrist in the off-season and is still trying to recover.
“We tried to go with Beth but her wrist was just too sore for her to be effective,” Flory said.
Daniela Romero played most of the weekend as the Tigers’ starting setter. Flory said the freshman setter improved offensively over weekend. Romero and Rachel Pittman led the team with 12 digs each against UNO. Romero also recorded 43 assists in that match.
Freshman Lacey Galliano made her first collegiate start last weekend in a make-shift line up that resulted from a shoulder injury to starter Megan Heinz.
Heinz was taken out of the third game against Tulane and could be out several weeks.
In the first game against UNO, the Privateers went on an offensive run outscoring the Tigers 7-2, to tie the game at 20 before taking the lead 28-26. Galliano halted the Privateers scoring streak with a kill that shifted the momentum in the Tigers favor and led to the LSU win 30-28.
Flory said Galliano did the best job of the new players that saw action in replacement for Heinz.
“She gave us a nice spark,” Flory said. “She was a nice surprise for the weekend.”
Game two was a hard fought win for the Tigers. The score was tied at 23 and then again at 28 before a service ace by Hood ended the game at 34-32. LSU led throughout game three which ended 30-28 with a kill by Lauren Leaumont.
Flory was not happy with the match against New Orleans despite the win.
“I was satisfied with the outcome but I was not satisfied with the way we played,” Flory said. “I think UNO outplayed us, they fought harder than we did.”
Flory said junior Regan Hood led the team. Hood recorded 17 kills and 11 digs against UNO for her second collegiate double-double. She was helped out by Lauren Leaumont who had a career-high 15 kills and 10 digs for her second double-double.
“Overall I think Regan Hood carried this team,” Flory said. “She’s been a tremendous player so far.”
The Tigers travel to Manhattan, Kan. next weekend for the Wildcat Classic, where they will face No. 14 Kansas State, Colorado State and South Florida.