2022 LSU Gumbo - Book - Page 12
Photos by Georgia Jones
After two crushing defeats against Troy and Arkansas,
LSU volleyball bounced back at their home opener with a
win against Alabama. The Tigers’ overall record moved to
5-6, while Alabama sits at 8-6. The teams played in front
of a crowd of 1,013 fans in the PMAC for one of the team’s
best performances of the season.
“We are excited to be on our home court,” said Head
Coach Fran Flory. “Alabama-LSU matches and honestly
Alabama-LSU everything is always a war. We split with
them last year at their place, so we [knew we] needed to be
prepared.”
Though the team had to play full-five sets to overcome
their opponent, they statistically outplayed them in almost
every aspect. The Tigers kept a .362 hitting percentage to
Alabama’s .221 and had 69 kills compared to the Tide’s
52. Defensively, LSU put up a total of nine blocks while
Alabama finished with five.
Unlike their usual method of getting off to a slow start,
LSU kicked it into gear fast. They had an impressive start
and quickly grabbed the first set, 25-16. The Tigers broke a
16-15 deadlock by claiming nine of the last points. Sanaa
Dotson and middle blocker Anita Anwusi can be credited
with the set’s success, putting up four kills each and a
massive .800 hitting percentage. Seniors Taylor Bannister
and Kylie Deberg issued three kills apiece.
Despite such an explosive start, LSU proceeded to drop
the following two sets. In the second set, 25-22, the team
contested with Alabama throughout before failing to
grab the last two points to claim the set. In the third, the
Crimson Tide took the lead with the help of a pair of kills
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from outside hitter Shaye Eggleston. The Tigers continued
to trail 12-6 before making a comeback after a timeout.
However, Alabama’s hitting percentage of .500 was too
much to come back from, and they closed the set 25-16.
“Alabama is a pin-oriented team, and their pins are
veteran players,” Flory said. “Their right sides kill a lot of
balls, and their left side are good volleyball players. I also
think they are better with ball control compared to last
year.”
The Purple and Gold came back in the fourth frame
with a 74% hitting rate, not a single error, and 17 kills from
the team. Five early kills came from transfer Deberg, while
senior Whitney Foreman recorded a block assist and two
kills herself. LSU ended the frame 25-14 to force the Tide
into a fifth set.
The final set kicked off with Alabama in the lead due to
errors, 5-3. However, outside hitter Dotson kept the Tigers
in the game with three early kills. The two teams tied six
more times before LSU took four of the last five points of
the match, closing it out 15-12.
This victory marks LSU’s third straight win in an SEC
home opener. The Texas native Dotson led the board by a
wide margin, registering a season-high 21 kills and a 58%
hitting rate. Outside hitter Deberg followed behind the
junior with her third double-double of the season with
14 kills and 13 digs. In addition, 5 foot 4-inch Raigen
Cianciulli registered 21 digs total, the most in the match. A
pair of outside hitters from Alabama led their team with 11
kills each.
“Hopefully this match can turn the corner,” Flory said.