The LSU sand volleyball team wrapped up the last day of the Tiger Sand Tournament with a single elimination pairs bracket at Mango’s Beach Volleyball Club on Sunday.
The top two pairs on each team played in the Gold bracket, the three and four spots played in the Tiger Bracket and the five, six and seven pairs participated in the Purple Bracket. Pairs play came after LSU (6-7) won three of its four matches Friday and Saturday.
As for the Tigers, freshman Riley Young and sophomore Emma Hiller fell to Florida International, 21-7, 24-22 in the semifinals of the Purple Bracket.
“Our performance was stronger in the second game than the first,” Young said. “We did the best we could/ FIU is ranked number six in the country, so it was a really hard match, but we’re improving each time we play them.”
Senior Helen Boyle and freshman Cheyenne Wood also fell, 21-9, 21-18, in straight sets to FIU in semifinals of the Tiger Bracket.
Despite two losses to FIU in the semifinals, the Tigers still remained confident, knowing the team’s chemistry is just starting to come together.
“We went 3-1 this weekend, only losing to FIU, a top 10 program,” said sophomore Katarina Raicevic. “I see the improvement every day. We’re starting to see our potential, and when we play on a really high level, we’re unstoppable.”
In the final round of pairs play, senior Katie Lindelow and freshman Mandi Orellana competed against FIU’s No. 1 pair of Summer Nash and Kristine Monforte. The Tigers took the match in three sets, winning 21-16, 20-22, 15-7. LSU dominated the third set to take the Gold Bracket.
“That last match just optimized what we want to be as a team — the fight, determination, execution and winning,” said LSU coach Russell Brock. “It was a good weekend overall for our team.
LSU will travel to Birmingham, Alabama, for the Blazer Beach Duals Tournament on Saturday. The team will face UAB and ULM on Saturday and will finish up competition Sunday with rematches against Spring Hill and the University of New Orleans.
You can reach Malcolm Poree on Twitter @MalcolmP_TDR.