LSU Volleyball Team News This Week – October 25, 2010
Overall Record: 19-2
SEC Record: 10-2
SEC Standings: Tied for 2nd overall [T-1st West]
AVCA Ranking: No. 16
RPI Rating: No. 13
Last Week: 2-0
Oct. 22 – at Georgia [W, 3-2 – 25-21, 20-25, 27-25, 26-28, 15-10]
Oct. 24 – at Auburn [W, 3-0 – 25-20. 25-20, 29-27]
Nominee for Offensive Player of the Week
Michele Williams, MB, Jr., Magnolia, Texas
Williams blasted 3.75 kills per set and connected for a .407 hitting percentage from her middle blocker position as LSU became the first SEC team in seven attempts to sweep the Georgia-Auburn road trip this season. She ripped 17 kills for a crisp .556 ratio. It marked the fifth time that Williams knocked over a .500 hitting clip on the season. Her six spikes and ace late in the frame was a big part of LSU’s 27-25 set three victory. The Magnolia, Texas native, wrapped up the weekend with 13 kills at Auburn and belted at least four spikes in each set.
Totals for the Week
SPKillsErr. Att.Pct.AssistsAcesRec *
ErrRec *
AttDigsBSBATB Team **
Hit Pct.
830854.40701122112.271
Nominee for Defensive Player of the Week
Lauren Waclawczyk, L, Jr., San Antonio, Texas
Waclawczyk was a key part of LSU’s back row continuing its solid play as the Tigers notched a pair of impressive road wins over Georgia and Auburn to improve to 10-2 in SEC action. The junior libero racked up 15 digs at Auburn highlighted by a seven scoop frame to open the match to run her streak to eight straight matches with double figure digs. The San Antonio, native, also has recorded an ace during five of her last seven outings to move up to fourth place in the league rankings entering Sunday’s matches. She also reeled in 13 digs during LSU’s five-set win at Georgia.
Totals for the Week
SPKillsErr. Att.Pct.AssistsAcesRec *
ErrRec *
AttDigsBSBATB Team **
Hit Pct.
8000.0007235328000.271
Nominee for Freshman of the Week
Desiree Elliott, MB, Fr., Cypress, Texas
Elliott continued her banner freshman campaign as LSU bounced back with road wins against Georgia and Auburn to start the second half of the SEC schedule. She was a factor in all facets of the game and averaged 2.75 kills to go along with 1.25 blocks per set in only three rotations. The Cypress, Texas, product hammered home a career-best 15 kills on a .414 hitting percentage and added six blocks during LSU’s five-set win at Georgia. Elliott popped seven kills and four blocks at Auburn. She entered Sunday’s matches second in the SEC with both a .422 hitting ratio and 1.28 blocks per frame in conference play.
Totals for the Week
SPKillsErr. Att.Pct.AssistsAcesRec *
ErrRec *
AttDigsBSBATB Team **
Hit Pct.
8221052.231100141910.271
Notes on the Tigers
LSU bounced back with a pair of road wins against Georgia and Auburn to open the second half of the SEC schedule. The Tigers improved to 19-2, 10-2 SEC and became the first SEC team in seven attempts to sweep the Georgia-Auburn road weekend this season. With the wins, LSU also remained in a first-place deadlock with Ole Miss for the SEC Western Division lead and advanced one spot to No. 16 in the latest edition of the AVCA Top 25 poll. Brittney Johnson set a balanced attack as six players, including herself, averaged one kill or more per set. The Baton Rouge native has distributed a league-best 10.75 assists per set to not only headline the SEC but rank No. 36 nationally. Michele Williams belted a team-best 3.75 kills to go along with a .407 hitting percentage for the weekend. She ripped 17 kills at Georgia, her second-highest output of 2010. Tania Schatow equaled a season-best with seven kills on a career-high .700 hitting percentage against Auburn. She also registered eight blocks on the weekend. Angela Bensend stayed atop the SEC rankings and has hammered home 4.17 kills per set to also check in at No. 26 in the nation. She recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 10 kills and 11 digs against Auburn. The Tigers are 31-2 over Bensend’s career when she reaches 10 or more kills. Desiree Elliott continued her strong freshman campaign and posted 2.75 kills in addition to 1.25 blocks per set. The Cypress, Texas, product cranked a career-best 15 kills on a .414 hitting ratio at Georgia and has produced double figure spikes in four of her last five outings. Madie Jones chipped in 11 kills against Georgia for her seventh double digit kills effort, while her .344 hitting percentage is 10th during SEC action. LSU’s back row of Lauren Waclawczyk, Sam Delahoussaye and Meghan Mannari have fueled the Tigers to a 66 percent sideout efficiency [550-837] along with a 96 percent serve-receive rating [692-718] in SEC matches. Waclawczyk has run together eight straight 10 or more dig performances. Her 4.10 digs per set are sixth, while her 0.32 aces per set are fourth in the SEC rankings. LSU opens a three-match home swing against Mississippi State [7 p.m., Friday] and Alabama [1:30 p.m., Sunday] inside the Maravich Center. The Tigers play host to their annual pink match Friday in support of breast cancer awareness.
