LSU snaps Lady Vols' streak

BY PATRICK BROWN sports@knoxnews.com
Published Monday, October 26, 2009

Tennessee volleyball coach Rob Patrick's voice could be heard over everything else a number of times Monday night in Thompson-Boling Arena.

Unfortunately for Patrick and the Lady Vols, the LSU Tigers made the loudest statement.

No. 20 LSU (16-5, 10-2 SEC) snapped Tennessee's five-match winning streak 25-22, 20-25, 27-25, 27-25, and became the first visitor to win in Thompson-Boling Arena since Florida swept UT last November.

"I'm happy with how we played," Patrick said. "I thought we played well, but (LSU) just played a little bit better."

"This match is always a war," said LSU coach Fran Flory. "No matter what happens, between Tennessee and LSU it is a long match. Certainly tonight was no exception."

Tennessee (15-6, 8-3) fell behind by five points in the first set. UT battled back to cut the lead to one behind two kills by junior Nikki Fowler, but LSU closed out the set.

"We started off slow," Patrick said. "Sometimes Coach has to get them fired up a little bit. We just need to play with more energy, and they did."

UT controlled the second set, and Fowler killed the last two points for the Lady Vols.

Things got dicey for UT in the third set, however.

Questionable calls had Patrick turning his voice toward the referees as LSU built a 16-12 lead, and he earned a yellow card as a warning.

"You're just fighting for your team. That's what coaches do," Patrick said. "That's a tough match to call."

Later in the set, after a kill by freshman Leslie Cikra pulled UT to 20-17, Patrick was given a red card by the officials, giving a point to LSU.

But the Lady Vols battled back to tie the set at 24 and at 25, but LSU got the final two points thanks to a kill by senior Michele Williams and a block from Williams and senior Brittnee Cooper.

UT trailed 14-11 in the fourth set before two Fowler kills jump-started a 9-2 spurt.

After LSU tied the set at 23, Fowler's kill put UT at set point. LSU senior Marina Skender responded with two kills.

After Cikra's kill tied the set at 25, Williams came up with another crucial kill, and Farren Powe's kill attempt went long to give LSU the victory.

"We had opportunities to get some kills and (LSU) made a play," Patrick said. "Whoever was going to make the play was going to win this match, and that's what happened."

"We showed great poise and great composure and we made some plays," Flory said.

Patrick Brown is a freelance contributor.