The LSU sand volleyball team finished the Fiesta at Siesta Key Tournament on Sunday with both bracket and pool play for the top six pairs.
The Tigers (10-8) used bracket and pool play to develop different pairs instead of relying on the same ones from every week.
“Today was a good opportunity to allow our kids to train and play with different partners,” said LSU coach Russell Brock in a news release. “I wanted to get some of our defenders in matchups with different blockers to see how they respond. It was really important watching some of them expand their game.”
Seniors Helen Boyle and Cati Leak served as the team’s number one pair but lost their matchup against Florida State in straight sets, 21-19, 21-17.
Freshman Mandi Orellana and senior Katie Lindelow fell in two sets to the College of Charleston in the Gold Bracket as the team’s No. 2 pair. The No. 3 pair of sophomore Callan Molle and junior Katarina Raicevic also lost in straight sets.
The No. 4 pair of freshman Carly Morris and sophomore Cheyenne Wood defeated Tulane in three sets but lost to South Carolina and Florida Atlantic in two sets. Freshman Riley Young and sophomore Emma Hiller, the No. 5 pair, won both matches against Tulane and Florida Atlantic but fell against South Carolina in the third match.
Seniors Emily Ehrle and Laura Whalen defeated UL-Monroe but lost to the College of Charleston in straight sets.
“Our pairs didn’t play as well as we would have expected this weekend,” Brock said. “We tried some new things to increase our potential and we see what we’ll need to work on in practice to keep improving.”
The Tigers will return to action this Saturday at Mango’s Beach Volleyball Club in Baton Rouge for the Battle on the Bayou Tournament.
You can reach Malcolm on twitter @MalcolmP_TDR