Alabama
LSU
Volleyball Edged by LSU in Five-set Thriller
10/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 19, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The volleyball team dropped a five-set heartbreaker Sunday to LSU at the CAVE by scores of 25-22, 23-25, 25-13, 20-25, 15-13. The loss puts the Crimson Tide at 10-8 on the season and 3-6 in Southeastern Conference play, while the Tigers improve to 11-6 overall and 6-4 in league action.
"I'm really proud of our effort in sets two, four and five," head coach Judy Green said. "We certainly had our opportunities to win in the fifth set. We just need to find a way to play with more consistency."
Three players netted double-digit kills in the match for Alabama. Leading the trio was Brooks Webster with 16 kills followed by Lindsey Buteyn with 12 and Alyssa Meuth with 11. Stephanie Riley had 25 assists on the afternoon, while Pauly topped all defenders with 13 digs. Webster added 10 digs of her own giving the junior her 10th double-double of the season.
The Tide dropped a tight first set 25-22. Alabama jumped on the Tigers early taking an 8-3 lead thanks in part to two kills by Webster. LSU countered with a 10-3 run to take a 13-11 lead. The Tide battled back to tie the score on three separate occasions, but were unable to overcome the Tigers.
Alabama bounced back in the second set to win a back and forth affair 25-23. The Tide trailed 5-1 but overcame the early deficit and tied the score at 8-8 on a Buteyn kill. Alabama extended the lead to 21-17 on another Buteyn kill before LSU rattled off five straight points to take a 22-21 lead. However, the Tide was not deterred and went on to win four of the last five points capped off by a Meuth kill.
LSU took the third set 25-13. The Tigers jumped out to an 11-3 lead, and the Tide was never able to make a significant dent in the margin. LSU setter Sam Dabbs recorded nine of her match high 42 assists in the third set.
Alabama regained the momentum in the fourth set, winning seven of the last nine points to take the set 25-20. The Tide fell behind 7-13, but after a coach Green time out Alabama battled back and eventually evened the count at 18-18 on a Pauly ace. Mary Catherine Aune closed out the set with a service ace of her own to tie the match at two sets a piece.
"I think our team made a good decision during set four, and that decision was to do what was right," said Green. "By doing that we put ourselves in a position to win."
Alabama made a strong to push in set five, but came up just short falling 15-13. The Tide was staring at a 14-10 deficit and match point, but came up with three consecutive crucial points on kills by Buteyn and Ashley Frazier and an attack error by LSU's Michele Williams to cut the Tigers' lead to 14-13. With chance to even the score a Buteyn attack went just wide and LSU held on for the victory.
Alabama continues its home stretch next weekend when it hosts Tennessee and Kentucky on Oct. 24 and 26. Friday's matchup with the Lady Volunteers is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. (CST), and Sunday's dual with the Wildcats is set to tip at 1:00 p.m. (CST).
