LSU volleyball is just about halfway through conference play and sits at 2-4 following its recent match loss against Kentucky.
Overall, the team is 9-6 under Tonya Johnson’s leadership in her fourth year as the Tigers’ head coach.
With nine matches left before LSU participates in the 2025 SEC Tournament for the first time in 20 years, here’s how the Tigers have fared thus far in conference play:
Oklahoma 0-3
The Tigers started their conference schedule in Norman against OU, a team that had a 4-0 home advantage when LSU made the road trip. The Sooners would move on to 5-0 at home as they shut down the Tigers in three sets, 25-17, 26-24, 25-18.
Although a loss, it showcased the rise of the Tigers’ improved defensive consistency that the team lacked during previous non-conference matchups. LSU’s defense limited the Sooners to a .115 hitting percentage despite not being able to produce on offense itself.
Arkansas 3-1
Following the loss to OU, LSU defeated Arkansas in four sets (12-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-23) to split its opening conference weekend 1-1 on the road.
Once again, the Tigers’ defensive efforts were the headliner throughout the matchup against the Razorbacks. LSU’s defense put up 17 blocks on the night, a season-high performance for the team. Freshman libero Laurel Cassidy stunned as a defensive leader, contributing a season-high 14 digs for the Tigers.
Tennessee 2-3
To open the Tigers’ conference schedule at home, LSU faced No. 20 Tennessee in a nail-biter that ended with a reverse sweep in favor of the Lady Vols. LSU dropped the match 25-20, 25-21, 23-25, 16-25, 8-15.
At the time, Tennessee headed into the match undefeated in conference play. As the Tigers’ were able to take both the first and second set, the record crowd at the PMAC grew excited to watch a possible upset against a top-25 ranked team.
Junior outside hitter Jurnee Robinson recorded a career-high 33 kills against the Lady Vols on the night, making her mark with this program and demonstrating why she was added to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Player of the Year Watchlist just before the match.
It went downhill for LSU after the first two sets, with costly service errors contributing to the Tigers’ lost footing. The team was unable to keep up as Tennessee regained its composure and play-making abilities. Although the Tigers were able to cut their deficits numerous times, those momentum plays just weren’t enough to secure a win against the Lady Vols.
Florida 3-2
The Tigers faced another top-25 team in its conference home opening weekend, a matchup against Florida that was notably their best so far this season. LSU upset the No. 23 team in five sets, 16-25, 25-22, 25-14, 22-25, 15-4.
LSU’s offense produced a season-high 66 kills, all while attaining a .250 attack percentage. Robinson, who had a career-high 33 kills against Tennessee the match before, went on to record a new career-high 34 kills against the Gators.
This win marked LSU volleyball’s first defeat over a nationally ranked team since 2022, and the program’s first win against Florida since 2021.
Alabama 0-3
LSU fell at Alabama in three straight sets, 17-25, 17-25, 18-25.
The Tigers’ offense just could not find the usual strength it displays every match, being held to a startling .023 attack percentage the entire game.
This offensive decline against Alabama was significant, not so much due to the history of the Crimson Tide rivalry in LSU sports, but because this was the first match senior outside hitter Nia Washington did not appear in the starting lineup. Washington was not present in the match at all, to which Johnson said she was unavailable.
Kentucky 0-3
The Tigers suffered another consecutive sweep in their matchup against No. 3 Kentucky at home in the PMAC.
While the Tigers lost in three straight sets, this matchup was far from a heartbreak.
LSU was able to hold the Wildcats’ offense to only a .211 hitting percentage and the Tigers’ defense had another game of double-digit blocks on the board.
The Tigers fought hard and threatened late in sets one and three, but just simply fell short to the No. 3 team in the country.
Moving into the next stretch of conference play, the Tigers hit the road to take on Vanderbilt and Missouri before coming home to host four matches: Texas A&M, Texas, Mississippi State and Ole Miss. Following that, LSU travels to South Carolina and Georgia before one last match at home against Auburn to conclude the regular season.
