Tennessee was ready to redeem itself from its 3-1 loss to LSU on Oct. 7. The Vols used that loss as an opportunity to examine the Tigers’ strategy.
“The main thing is watching them and knowing the game plan from previous games that they’ve played,” freshman hitter Erica Treiber said.
Tennessee’s learning approach seemed to helped as the Volunteers decreased their errors from 21 to 16. The Volunteers swept the Tigers, taking the first three sets 25-17, 25-18, and 26-24.
The first set started with what seemed to be an even match-up as the Volunteers and Tigers remained close in score for the first 13 points. A kill from Kanisha Jimenez marked the breakaway point for the Volunteers, and Tennessee took the lead as LSU committed six attack errors and fell further behind.
“We were able to control the first ball better,” Coach Rob Patrick said. “Our serve receive and then our passing…we controlled those balls better than we did in the first match that we played”.
The second set the Tigers struggled with defensive positioning and recovering from attacks. Tennessee capitalized on the weaker areas of LSU’s play. The Volunteers were able to maintain a balanced defense which enabled them to complete powerful, precise attacks.
“You kind of get used to where their defense sets up and where you can hit the ball to find holes,” said Treiber. “And then the passes were great tonight, and Lexi set amazingly so to put a ball down, it just made it a lot easier when everything came together.”
Tennessee’s front row was also able to implement successful double-blocking against LSU’s hitters. During the second set the defense was able to find a rhythm and work effectively as a cohesive unit.
“We were able to get honed in on what they were doing,” Coach Patrick said. “They didn’t really change what they were doing offensively…the second set we were able to defend what they were doing even better because we already saw it for a full set”.
The majority of the third set, Tennessee trailed LSU as LSU improved its defensive positioning and was able to respond better to Tennessee’s attacks.
Tennessee had nine attack errors in the third set, which was more than the combined seven errors of the first two sets. Additionally towards the end of the third set junior Bridgette Villano, libero for the Volunteers, went down with an injury and had to be helped off the court.
When asked about Villano’s condition, Coach Patrick said, “We don’t know yet… obviously she’s still icing, but we won’t know anything until tomorrow”.
The Volunteers were able to regroup though and come back from what had been a seven point deficit. Tennessee took the lead 25-24 after LSU committed an attack error, and the next play outside hitter Bri Holmes sealed the Volunteer win with a kill.
“We didn’t think about the score,” said Jimenez. “We were down and we always pushed ourselves up”.
Tennessee will face Texas A&M at home on Sunday. The Vols know they have to maintain focus as they go into the game, but they have an added confidence in their ability to recover from a deficit and their level of cohesion.
