Alabama
LSU
Volleyball Falls to LSU, 3-1, on Sunday
9/18/2011 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 18, 2011
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama volleyball team (6-6, 0-2 SEC) fell, 3-1, to LSU (9-3, 2-0 SEC) on Sunday afternoon from Foster Auditorium. The Crimson Tide dropped the first two sets, 26-24 and 25-15, but rallied to win the third set 25-13. The last set went the Tigers way in a 25-15 decision.
"The thing that we struggle with the most is our consistency to put 25 points on the scoreboard," said head coach Ed Allen. "We've played 12 matches this year, and there have been a number of sets we've lost exactly how we lost the opening set today. We feel like the team is competing hard, but there are some simple things that we have to do a better job of executing."
Junior Kayla Fitterer led the Tide in points with 12.5 while also posting her 10th double-double of the season, and 22nd of her career, with a team-high 11 kills and 11 digs. Senior Stephanie Riley had 12 digs and 18 assists. Cristina Arenas led the team in digs with 16.
Alabama got off to a rocky start, dropping the first set in a close 26-24 decision. UA hit .200 in the opening set and led 23-20 before LSU rallied to take six of the final seven points to take a 1-0 lead. In the second set, LSU held the Tide to a negative hitting percentage as the Tigers posted six of their 11 blocks in the second set.
LSU's Madie Jones posted a match-high 21 kills. Michele Williams added 11 kills and a match-high seven total blocks. Desiree Elliott added 13 kills and Helen Boyle had a match-high 54 assists for the Tigers.
Alabama controlled the third set, winning 25-13 as the Tide hit .444 in the set while not committing an error. Brianne Vande Griend collected six of her seven kills in the match in the third set. With the score 14-12 in favor of Alabama, Riley served nine straight points as the Tide opened a commanding 22-12 lead.
The fourth set ended with the Tigers posting a 25-15 lead after hitting .333 in the set and posted four blocks to hold the Tide to a .094 hitting mark. LSU finished the match with a .273 hitting percentage while the Tide closed the day with a .145 mark.
Alabama returns to SEC play on Friday, Sept. 23 with a road match against the Auburn Tigers. First serve is schedule for 7 p.m. from the Student Activities Center.
