Playing after a loss for the first time since Oct. 5, the LSU volleyball team got back to its winning ways Friday night with a 3-1 victory against Missouri, 25-19, 25-17, 21-25, 25-12.
LSU (17-8, 12-4 Southeastern Conference) faced a bevy of injuries during both of its matches last weekend, leading to a loss at Mississippi State, its first loss in more than a month. LSU coach Fran Flory said before practice Wednesday her team would be good to go for the match against Missouri (16-15, 7-9 SEC).
Junior outside hitter Katie Lindelow missed LSU’s match last Friday against Tennessee. She returned to the lineup Sunday and looked back at full strength from the first point against Missouri.
Lindelow had a three digs and a team-high five kills in the first set, helping lead the Tigers to a 25-19 first set victory.
In the second set, sophomore middle blocker Briana Holman took the reins from Lindelow and led the team with five kills. Holman added an ace and two blocks in the set and was responsible for five of LSU’s first 14 points in the set.
But to close the second set, it was Lindelow again, as she was responsible for five of LSU’s final 10 points to close out the second set, 25-17.  Junior defensive specialist Haley Smith said she was happy to get Lindelow back on the court at full strength.
“We love having Katie back,” Smith said. “She a little, few tweaks and stuff, but she got over this week…and back for this Friday game.”
Missouri jumped ahead of LSU quickly in the third set, scoring the first four points. From there it turned into a defensive battle with the two teams totaling 11 blocks.
LSU kept the set tight, tying the match four times, but was never able to take the lead, ultimately dropping the set, 21-25. Flory said Missouri turned the match to their defensive style and changed the pace of the game.
“We’re not very good at their type of match,” Flory said. “They blocked a ton of balls and their offensive rhythm is a little bit faster than ours. The speed that they were playing at was a little fast for us and we didn’t respond well to that.”
Flory’s team responded better in the fourth set. The Tigers turned it back to their type of match and the rhythm back to their liking. LSU ran ahead of Missouri, 8-1, early in the fourth set.
With the early lead in the set, Flory put all four of her seniors on the floor to close out senior night. All four of them made contributions down the stretch.
Defensive specialist Laura Whalen totaled three digs. Outisde hitter Madi Mahaffey had one kill and one dig. Setter Malorie Pardo had three kills, four digs, one assisted block and 12 assists in the fourth.
But to end the match, it was senior outside hitter Helen Boyle who delivered a kill off a Missouri block to end the set, 25-12, and the match. Flory said she wished she could have played them sooner, but the rotation didn’t work to get them in the match earlier.
“I’m proud of the fact that all four got in there and all four had great contributions in the fourth set,” Flory said. “[It is] nice to have senior night have a win because it’s a miserable night if we don’t win that match.”
LSU now turns its eyes to Sunday’s match at home against Auburn (12-16, 4-11 SEC), which comes to Baton Rouge off a loss to Alabama. LSU currently sits on the bubble of the NCAA tournament.
Flory said her team can’t afford to give any more matches away, calling tonight’s win “vital” to its tournament dreams.
“We have to win every match that we play from here on out to have a chance to be in postseason,” Flory said.