Tide Volleyball Sweeps LSU in SEC Home Opener
10/14/2002 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
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TUSCALOOSA - The University of Alabama volleyball team got the home portion of their Southeastern Conference schedule off well earning an impressive 3-0 (30-27, 30-22, 30-28) sweep over Western Division rival LSU in the CAVE on Friday night.
Alabama has now won three consecutive SEC contests and improves to 4-1 in league play and is 13-6 overall. LSU falls to 9-6 overall and 1-3 in the SEC. The Tigers continue their weekend road swing at Auburn on Sunday.
The Crimson Tide jumped out to an early advantage in the opening frame as Kory Tull dropped in the first of her team high four aces of the night to stake Bama to a 4-1 lead. UA held an edge until a four-point run by LSU put the Tigers ahead by the score of 12-10. The match stayed close until a five-point run keyed by SEC Player of the Week Erin Heffner pushed Alabama back in front, 19-15. Heffner recorded a pair of aces and a kill in the run. The Tide kept the pressure on and seemed headed for the easy win at 26-21 but three quick points trimmed the UA margin. Bama regrouped and closed out the game for the 30-27 win.
Game two was all Alabama as the Tide opened up a quick double-digit advantage (13-3) on the strength of seven straight points on Jennifer Bibber's service that included back-to-back aces. The Crimson Tide continued its strong play and serving as Tull cued a five-point spurt with a pair of aces giving UA its largest lead at 22-11. The Tigers attempted a late charge but could get no closer than six points as the Tide cruised to a 30-22 victory and a 2-0 lead in the match. Alabama benefited from a solid serving performance that resulted in six aces during the frame.
"This was by far our most complete volleyball match," said UA head coach Judy Green. "Our team executed the game plan to near perfection. I feel like this team took a big step up in maturity tonight. I really see us starting to put some things together."
A determined LSU squad got the quick start in game three pushing out to an 8-5 advantage before a four-point run returned the lead to Alabama. The pair stayed within a point of each other for several services until Bama scored three quick points to gain some breathing room. LSU answered with three points of their own moments later to knot the score at 20. The Crimson Tide again opened up a slight advantage (25-22) only to see the Tigers claw back to even the count at 27. Setter Kenna Milner then dumped for a point followed by a Tide triple-block of an LSU middle attack to reach game point. Bibber scored the final kill for the 30-28 win.
Heffner, the league leader in kills for SEC competition, continued her stellar play finishing with a team-best 19 kills and her third consecutive over .400 hitting performance (.464). Bibber posted 13 kills followed by 11 by Erin Price and 10 from Tull. Milner handed out 49 assists in setting Bama to an impressive .333 team hitting percentage and also recorded five kills in six attempts herself. Heffner also led the Tide defense with 11 digs for her eighth double-double of the season. Tull and Heffner paced the Bama net play with four blocks each.
LSU had a pair of players in double-figures led by Kyra Lancon's 12 kills. The Tigers won the net battle edging Alabama 10-8.5 in total team blocks.
Alabama concludes its weekend SEC home stand against Western Division co-leader Arkansas on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. The Tide-Lady Razorback match is going to be televised live by Fox Sports Net South.
Alabama (13-6, 4-1 SEC) 30 30 30
LSU (9-6, 1-3 SEC) 27 22 28
