LSU Volleyball competed in its first SEC conference match against the dangerous Missouri Tigers and limped away following a blowout loss with a final score of 3-0.
Throughout the beginning of the first set, the purple and gold’s defensive scheme was immediately challenged as the Missouri Tigers pulled away with an early 6-1 lead.
Following a much-needed timeout, LSU started to execute its game plan in a more efficient manner. In the late stages of the first set, the Tigers managed to cut the deficit all the way to a one-point game with a score of 20-19.
However, Missouri would finish the remaining points in style and shut the door on the home team’s potential comeback efforts.
The competitiveness of the first set, unironically, set the tone for how the remainder of the match would unfold. With just how down-to-the-wire this battle was, resilience would be crucial to flip the script from the perspective of the LSU Tigers.
During the second set, both Tiger teams were knotted up at a score of eight points each. From a combination of miscommunication and costly floor spacing, Missouri would go on a remarkable 17 to 4 run to conclude the set and take a commanding 2-0 lead with aspirations of fulfilling the shutout.
LSU never could recover from such a substantial lead. While keeping the score respectable over the course of the third set, Missouri would complete the shutout and come out victorious three sets to none.
Sophomore Jurnee Robinson finished with 13 kills and 14 points scored.
Setter Bailey Ortega played a pivotal role with this execution, finishing with 24 assists herself.
This is the second time that the LSU Tigers have been shutout this season and both occurrences have taken place in their last two matches, which the University of San Diego was able to accomplish last Friday in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
With hopes of getting back into the win column, the LSU Tigers will have an opportunity to do so as they host a new opponent in the SEC.
The Tigers face No. 8 ranked Texas Longhorns on Sunday, September 29, at 2:00 p.m. CST in the PMAC.
LSU Volleyball has a current record of 8-4 and are looking for their first conference win of the season.
