The LSU volleyball team (14-8, 7-5 SEC) hasn’t lost three straight matches since October 2004.
On Sunday, the Tigers will defend that streak when they travel to Mississippi State (10-11, 5-7 SEC), four days after losing in straight sets to Arkansas.
“We’re going to get back in the gym and try to regain our confidence in what we’re doing,” said LSU coach Fran Flory. “If we aren’t confident, then we’ll change things around on the offensive side.”
That run in 2004 was also the last time the Tigers dropped consecutive Southeastern Conference Western Division matches, losing to Ole Miss and Alabama.
LSU swept Mississippi State (26-24, 25-18, 25-17) earlier this season when the Bulldogs came to the PMAC.
The last time LSU lost to Mississippi State was in November 2005 in Starkville, Miss.
Coincidentally, that season was also the last time the Tigers lost to Arkansas before Wednesday, breaking an 11-game winning streak against the Razorbacks, the same length of consecutive wins LSU currently has against Mississippi State.
“We’re talking about making some more lineup changes because we need to get some better opportunities and need a stabilizing force,” Flory said in a news release.
The Tigers were able to hold the Bulldogs to a .069 hitting percentage in their Sept. 25 matchup, despite Mississippi State senior middle back Hannah Wilkinson leading the SEC in the category at the time.
Wilkinson has since fallen to fourth after posting a .095 hitting percentage against the Tigers, but still boasts a .346 hitting percentage on the season.
Wilkinson’s teammate, senior outside hitter Caitlin Rance, comes into the game No. 2 in the SEC in kills (332) and points scored (365).
The last time the two teams met, LSU junior outside hitter Madie Jones recorded a game-high 19 kills on her way to a .333 hitting percentage, while sophomore middle back Desiree Elliot posted 11 kills on the day.
LSU will enter Sunday’s match with freshman setter Malorie Pardo leading the SEC in assists per set with a 11.77 average and consecutive SEC Freshman of the Week honors, while junior defensive specialist Meghan Mannari is second in the SEC with 370 digs on the season.
After its devastating loss to Arkansas in which LSU had a .077 hitting percentage, its second worst of the season, the Tigers have fallen back into second place in the SEC West behind the Razorbacks.
Flory has won the West for six consecutive years. The Tigers will have to work their way out of a hole with only eight matches left, including a divisional showdown with Arkansas in the final game of the regular season in Baton Rouge.
 
 
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Contact Michel Gegenheimer at [email protected]