The LSU volleyball team beat Ole Miss in a four-set showdown (25-19, 25-9, 23-25, 27-25) at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Friday night.
The Tigers (12-3, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) were determined to avoid the slow starts that have been plaguing them in recent games and came out firing as they took the opening two sets in convincing fashion.
“That’s probably the most encouraging thing about this match,” said head coach Fran Flory. “The start was a nice change from where we’ve been recently.”
Junior setter Malorie Pardo picked apart the Rebel defense and led the Tigers in a dominating second set.
Pardo dished 11 of her 41 assists in the set and kept all of her hitters involved in the offense as LSU cruised to a 25-9 advantage.
“We gained the momentum,” Flory said. “When you can do that you get the other team second guessing a little bit.”
Flory credited Ole Miss for maintaining composure after the second set and testing the Tigers as the match continued.
Freshman hitter Briana Holman and sophomore hitter Cati Leak tied for the team lead in kills with 15 apiece.
Holman has developed an impressive chemistry with Pardo as her efficient .414 hitting percentage can attest.
“Day by day I’m building my relationship with my hitters,” Pardo said. “I’ve been a little more demanding and they’ve taken it and ran with it.”
While the team is pleased with getting off to a fast start, they left much to be desired with how they closed the match, Flory said.
LSU faltered in the third set and found itself pushed to the brink of a match point in the fourth set before Holman delivered the clutch block to end the night on a positive note.
“When Bri feels comfortable and plays athletically she can make those plays,” Flory said. “The thing that I was most impressed with was her poise. That was a pretty key situation for her to come through.”
Holman said there is always a player on the team willing to step up in those situations and she was pleased to step up for her team.
“My adrenaline was pumping,” Holman said. “I said my prayers like I always do under the net and then I just do what I can.”
The Tigers will attempt to pair a fast start with a strong finish as they pursue their first sweep of the season in their second consecutive match in the PMAC against Mississippi State on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

Gallery • 12 Photos

Angela Major

LSU junior setter Malorie Pardo (14) celebrates with her teammates Friday, October 11, 2013 after the Tigers' victory against Ole Miss in the PMAC.