The LSU volleyball team extended its winning streak to seven games Sunday when it defeated Georgia, 3-1 (25-15, 17-25, 28-26, 25-20), in its return home to the PMAC.
After losing their first three games in Southeastern Conference play, the Tigers (12-7, 7-3 SEC) improved to third in the league and first in the SEC West division with their win against the Bulldogs (10-11, 2-7 SEC).
“We’ve played ourselves into a higher level in the SEC,” said LSU coach Fran Flory. “By all likes in the beginning of the season, we’re the team everybody thought they could get a significant win in the league against. Now we’ve proven that maybe we’re not that easy, and we’re one that they better be ready for.”
LSU’s win against a struggling Georgia team did not come easily. With the match tied at one set apiece, the Bulldogs led a majority of the third set on their way to a 23-21 advantage.
The Tigers responded with three straight kills to take a 24-23 lead before the two squads traded blows. LSU came out on top with a big 28-26 victory to take a 2-1 edge against Georgia.
“Vital,” Flory said of winning the third set. “If not, we’re still playing right now … Winning that was the defining moment of the match.”
LSU seemed to be on its way to an easy fourth-set win for the match when a block by junior outside hitter Emily Ehrle gave the Tigers an 19-13 lead.
Before the fans in the PMAC knew what happened, Georgia scored five consecutive points and cut LSU’s lead to one.
That’s when the growth and maturity that led to LSU’s winning streak came into play.
“One of the things we’ve been talking about and working on is composure and poise,” said LSU sophomore middle blocker Briana Holman. “It’s more of an experience thing. We finally figured it out.”
After dominating the first set 25-15 with a .429 hitting percentage while holding the Bulldogs to .129 clip, the Tigers’ offensive production decreased dramatically as they shot .154 in the second set. Georgia took advantage, hitting at a rate of .333 on its way to a 25-17 win to tie the match.
LSU’s offense improved in the third and fourth sets, but it never got back into the rhythm it had, as the Tigers were held to a .221 attacking percentage after the first set.
“They did a really good job of putting pressure on us, and we had a tendency to get complacent and think we were just going to win it without having to earn it,” said junior outside hitter Cati Leak. “Once we realized that going into halftime, we picked it up.”
Leak finished the game with 11 kills and 13 digs, the last of each came at the same time when she dove on the ground for a ball Georgia couldn’t handle as it went over the net.
Holman had another impressive outing with a .407 hitting percentage for 15 kills in addition to five blocks.
Prior to the game, Flory was announced as the winningest coach in LSU volleyball history as senior associate athletic director Miriam Segar presented her with a ball to commemorate her record-breaking 309th win.
“They gave me a ball with 309 on it, and I thought, ‘hopefully I get more than 309 and hopefully tonight was 310,’” Flory said. “I’m honored and privileged — as I say all the time — to work here and be a part of this University.”
You can reach Tyler Nunez on Twitter @Nunez_TDR.