Coming off a 0-3 start to conference play, LSU was looking to rebound against Texas A&M. Both came into the game going in different directions with A&M looking for their third SEC victory while LSU was looking for their first.
LSU (5-10, 0-4 Southeastern Conference) fell behind Texas A&M (10-5, 3-0 SEC) in the first set until they gathered themselves and took the set.
The first set gave the Tigers confidence as they faced match point and came out with a win, but they lost the second set without much of fight.
The third set put a smile on coach Fran Flory’s face. The Tigers came out slow, but pulled away late with outstanding net play and pure determination. The next set could be the match, but the team was lacking one thing.
“We need to step on the court with a better tenacity about us,” Flory said. “We have to jump on teams early and keep the momentum.”
The Tigers fell behind 5-0 in the fourth set, but found a way to climb back into the game. The game showed how evenly matched both teams were. The score constantly switched between the teams until the Aggies took the set 25-23 to send the game into a deciding fifth set.
Like the whole match leading up, the fifth set was close every step of the way. Both teams battled with tough digs and hard spikes. In a set that could have gone either way, Texas A&M wins the set 15-13 and the match.
The heartbreak was apparent as soon as the ball went out of bounds.
“The game plan was perfect,” Coach Flory said. “We got greedy at times, but we played hard.”
As the players participated in their postgame workouts, the proximity of victory was seen on all faces and showed just how much this conference game meant to the team.
Going forward, Flory thinks good times are ahead.
“I am super proud of this team,” Flory said. “We are so close to getting that confidence that allows us to win games like the one today. The only way to get confidence is experience.”
In the near win, the Tigers were there in the stat sheet, but could not find a way to close. Unfortunately, this has been the story for the Tigers all season, but coach Flory is not worried.
“We will have a breakthrough game,” Flory said. “Once we win that game, we will get going.”
The Tigers hope that breakthrough game happens against Ole Miss (10-7, 0-3 SEC) in Oxford on Oct. 7.