Continuing its Southeastern Conference home stand, the LSU volleyball team plays South Carolina tonight in the PMAC at 7 p.m.
The Tigers (5-8) are coming off a 3-1 loss to Arkansas on Wednesday. Against the Razorbacks, junior Regan Hood recorded a career-high 27 kills. Hood leads the SEC in kills per game with 4.85.
Defensively, Megan Heinz had 10 blocks against the Razorbacks. Heinz is the first LSU player in two years to record double-digit blocks in a match.
The Gamecocks (6-6) went 2-1 in last weekend’s Gamecock Invitational. USC lost to Santa Clara before beating Duke and George Washington. Two Gamecocks were named to the All-Tournament team, Lauren Ford and Lynae Vanden Hull. Ford led the team in hitting with a .329 percentage while Hull, a redshirt freshman, led the team in kills for the weekend with 44.
LSU coach Fran Flory said South Carolina will be one of the most athletic teams the Tigers will face this year.
“We will need to take advantage of our positives like ball control and defense against South Carolina,” Flory said. “We will have to block like we did against Arkansas and be more efficient offensively.”
Offensively, the Tigers have had to deal with an ever-changing lineup because of lack of returning players and injuries. Several freshmen such as Kassi Mikulik, Melody Clark, Lacey Galliano and Markeisha Constant have been worked in and out of the lineup. LSU also is working with two different setters. Junior Beth Cowley and Freshman Daniela Romero split time leading the offensive game.
However, freshman Lauren Leaumont said the inconsistent lineup is not a key factor.
“I don’t think who we play next to matters,” Leaumont said.
Leaumont said the Tigers need to hit important shots instead of making errors. Flory said the Gamecocks have a young team that will come to Baton Rouge looking to prove a point.
“They want to maintain their SEC record because they think they can challenge Florida for the conference title,” Flory said. “We need to step up and when we are given the opportunities, we will have to reduce our errors.”
In 2002 South Carolina beat the Tigers 3-1. The last LSU victory was in 1995.