LSU’s weekend momentum strengthened with a sweep against Mississippi State on Sunday.
Roughly four hours before the arena crew would have to flip the PMAC’s volleyball court to a basketball court for a game later Sunday evening, LSU (9-16, 4-10 Southeastern Conference) cruised past Mississippi State at scores of 25-21, 25-23 and 25-20.
LSU coach Fran Flory said the team “got the monkey off our back,” and finally reached the potential the coaching staff knew the team had.
LSU’s win Sunday is its second home win in three days and second win in the PMAC all season.
“The way that they managed the match today was the most impressive thing to me,” Flory said. “We grew, our confidence grew and we didn’t try to do too much.”
Mississippi State gained an early lead in the first set but LSU tied at seven, and then again at eight. Eventually, the Tigers pulled ahead to keep the lead and grab their first win of the match, 25-21.
LSU was able to capitalize on Mississippi State’s seven errors in the set while junior outside hitter Gina Tillis spearheaded the Tigers in kills and digs with four and three, respectively.
LSU came with heat for the second set, but so did the Bulldogs. The second set saw eight lead changes and 12 tied scores. Though the Tigers kept most of the lead throughout the second set, Mississippi State was able to catch up to the Tigers at 23-24 before Tillis scored LSU’s final point with a hard-hitting kill to win the second set for LSU.
The Tigers were determined to win the third set, players said. LSU started strong, winning the first two points of the third set. The team was able to keep the lead throughout the set, refusing to allow Mississippi State to tie the game.
The Tigers won the third set, 25-20, to sweep the Bulldogs and win their second home match of the season.
LSU had 41 kills and six errors in 103 swings for a total hitting percentage of .340 for the match.
Tillis said after a pep talk about leaving the past behind prior to this weekend, the team decided to play like it had nothing to lose.
“Two home game wins, that and not having any home game wins, it feels good, especially sweeping Mississippi State because they got us last year and getting them back at home feels even better,” Tillis said.
The Tigers will travel this week to compete against Kentucky at 6 p.m. on Friday in the Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Kentucky.

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Ryan McCarble

LSU gathers after the 3-0 win against Mississippi State on Sunday Nov. 13, 2016 in the PMAC.