NEW ORLEANS – LSU (5-4) opened the Tulane Invitational by defeating Oregon State (4-5) 25-18, 27-25, 25-22 Friday night at Fogelman Arena.
With the win, LSU secured its fourth shutout of the season, surpassing last season’s shutout total. The Tigers hit .254 in the match and recorded 45 kills and 39 assists. They also hit seven aces in the win. Although the Beavers won the battle in net with five blocks to LSU’s four, OSU was held to a .173 hitting percentage, making them the fifth opponent in a seven-game span that the Tigers have held under .200.
“I thought we followed the game plan well and executed,” coach Tonya Johnson said. “Most importantly, I thought we finished when we needed to, especially in the second set. Winning brings confidence and this team needed some confidence tonight. They had to come out and compete like they did and win. I didn’t think we were given much. We had to get this win tonight and our team played well. There was a lot of trust and communication there tonight.”
Outside hitter Sanaa Dotson turned in her fifth straight game with 10 or more kills as she tallied 14 kills and had a .324 hitting percentage. Dotson also had nine digs, an ace and a block. Outside hitter Paige Flickinger finished with eight kills and 11 digs, and right winger Hannah Jacobs recorded seven kills and a block in the win.
Setter Josie Vondran dished out 23 assists and added five kills, five digs, an ace and a block. Libero Ella Larkin had a team-high 13 digs, middle blocker Anita Anwusi led the team with three blocks to go along with five kills, and middle blocker Alia Williams led the team with a .400 hitting percentage after six kills in 15 attacks without any errors.
Izzi Szulczewski recorded a double-double for the Beavers with 11 kills and 14 digs in the match, while setter Inna Balyko led all players with 26 assists.
Set 1
- The Tigers rolled in the first set 25-18 after a 13-5 run overall.
- LSU took its first lead of the game at 6-5 and held a 14-10 advantage after a 4-0 run when Oregon State called a timeout.
- The run continued on the other side of the break for the Tigers with four unanswered points before the Beavers scored again. LSU continued to press though and had a 22-14 lead when OSU called its final timeout.
- Oregon State cut the lead to 24-18, but an error gave LSU the opening set.
- LSU held Oregon State to a -.032 hitting percentage while hitting .267 in the frame. Flickinger led the Tigers with five kills, while Dotson and Jacobs followed with three kills each.
Set 2
- Oregon State jumped out to an early lead and led 11-7 when LSU was forced to use its first timeout of the game.
- LSU fought back and made it within one point at 15-14 when OSU called a timeout. The Tigers tied the score at 17 and again at 21 when the Beavers signaled for the final timeout of the set.
- The set saw its fifth tie at 22, but an OSU layup put them ahead 23-22 when LSU called its final timeout. Draw no. six came at 24 and a kill by Dotson gave the Tigers their first lead at 25-24 since taking a 3-2 lead.
- The Beavers tied the set one last time, but committed a service error and attack error for the Tigers to win the set, 27-25 and take a 2-0 lead in the match.
- Dotson led the offense with five kills and an ace, followed by three kills from Flickinger and Williams.
Set 3
- LSU scored the first four points of the set and led 5-1 before OSU went on a 4-0 run to knot the set, 5-5. The Tigers extended their lead to five at 12-7 and led 16-10 when the Beavers called timeout.
- Oregon State used a 6-1 run to pull within a point at 17-16 and tied the set at 19 and 20 before a block from Anwusi and Vondran followed by an ace from Larkin gave the Tigers a 22-20 lead.
- After a Beaver timeline. Williams recorded two kills for the Tigers and an offensive error by OSU gave the Tigers a 25-22 win.
- Dotson recorded six kills on 14 errorless swings (.429) in the set, while Jacobs and Willams both finished with three kills apiece.
The next one
LSU and Tulane will go head-to-head at 6:30pm tomorrow night to finish off the weekend.
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