LSU’s volleyball season only gets tougher from here as they face another daunting obstacle — No. 15 Kentucky.
The stats don’t show the game being in favor of LSU, as the Tigers boast a record of 7-11 while Kentucky sits at 12-4 and an undefeated nine-game win streak in Southeastern Conference play.
However, LSU has been on a steady incline over the past few weeks, securing victories from Georgia and Auburn at home. They took down Georgia in four sets and Auburn in a sweep of three. The Tigers have built momentum that will push them to face the Wildcats.
“I think [the wins will] give us a great fight first of all,” said junior outside hitter Milan Stokes. “Even if the outcome may not be what we want, we’re going to make incredible strides, so I’m actually excited to see the way this goes.”
The Tiger defense will have to show up on Friday. Kentucky is one of the most physical teams in the SEC. They play hard and they play fast. LSU plans to work on their blocking game and stopping the Wildcats at the net.
“We have to contest them at the net,” said head coach Fran Flory. “We have to be good in our blocking game. We have to be physical at the net and above the net. If you don’t contest them at the net, then they’re gonna get the ball on the floor really fast, so I think that has to be the mentality.”
The Tiger offense will play a huge part in this game as well. In order to win sets and the overall match, the Tigers will have to combat the Wildcats just as well as they defend against them, if not better.
It is going to take some big plays and huge shots to outrank the tough Wildcat team.
“We have to be attack-minded and not play their tempo, but play our tempo,” Flory said. “We shouldn’t let their rhythm and their pace affect what we do once the ball is on our side. So patience and then an attempt to match them at the net and above the net is what we need.”
Flory also explained how the confidence of the team is the highest it has ever been.
Sophomore outside hitter Taylor Bannister said that the team’s mindset hasn’t always been in the right place. For Friday’s game, mindset will factor into how the team attacks Kentucky.
“This weekend will depend just on everyone staying out of their heads,” Bannister said. “If Kentucky gets a big point, we’ll just get a big point right back. It just depends on how everyone comes to the game on Friday and the mentality of the team. Whitney Foreman, one of our freshman, always says she has the mentality of, whenever she’s on the court, if you’re not on her team she’s always gonna go against you despite whatever you do.”
This will be the third home game in a row with one more to follow. LSU athletics have been on a roll lately, and the fan’s energy transfers from sport to sport.
Bannister went as far as to compare the fans to the back line in a war, supporting, cheering, there to pick up spirits. Flory simply described it as contagious.
“Winning is contagious,” Bannister said. “Success is contagious. The fans sometimes kind of play their part in that, but creating the home court environment and creating that type of vibe, the feeling that other teams feel when they walk into buildings. They can feel that vibe and that pressure. I think that’s super valuable.”
LSU will face Kentucky Friday at 6 p.m. then they’ll face Tennessee Sunday at 1 p.m.
