University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
16-4, 2-3SEC
LSU
7-9, 3-2SEC
Vols Drop 3-1 Match to LSU on Road
October 07, 2015 | Volleyball
BATON ROUGE, La. -- Bri Holmes had a season-high 22 kills and Kanisha Jimenez recorded her fifth double-double, but the Tennessee Volunteers lost to LSU 3-1 (25-19, 16-25, 25-21, 26-24) on Wednesday night at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
The Vols (16-4, 2-3 SEC) lost a six-point lead in the fourth set and could not force a deciding fifth set, saving one match point but not the second to LSU (7-9, 3-2).
The Vols return home to host No. 22 Arkansas on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Thompson-Boling Arena. It will be Kids Day at the arena with a youth clinic for ages 12 and under following the match. It will also mark Tennessee's first match against a nationally ranked opponent this season.
Holmes had 22 kills, her most in Tennessee uniform, and hit .475 with a pair of digs and blocks. Jimenez had seven kills in the fourth set to finish with 16 kills and 12 digs.
Senior setter Lexi Dempsey had 53 assists, a career high. She had seven digs.
Tennessee led by as many as six points early in the fourth set, leading 15-9 on three consecutive kills by Holmes. LSU slowly chipped away at the lead, tying the match at 19-19 on a kill by Cati Leak.
LSU set up its first match point at 24-23 but it was foiled by a kill up the middle by freshman Erica Treiber. The Tigers capitalized on their second match point, a clean ace by Haley Smith deep in the court.
Wednesday's match was the first time Tennessee lost after out-digging an opponent, having entered the match 15-0 when leading that defensive category. The Vols had 64 digs -- led by libero Bridgette Villano's 23 -- and LSU had 51.
LSU took control of the opening set with an 9-2 run to take a 15-11 lead. The Tigers eventually led by eight points at 20-12. The Vols cut the lead to four points at 20-16 but did not finish the rally; LSU closed out the first set 25-19 on a solo block by Toni Rodriguez.
The Vols trailed 14-13 midway through the second set, but absolutely turned the tide by winning 12 of the last 15 points in the set. Sophomore Kelsey Bawcombe served for five points, cracking an ace and helping the Vols take a 17-14 lead. Tennessee eventually took the set 25-16 on back-to-back blocks.
Holmes had 10 kills by the break, marking the 11th time this season she has had 10 or more kills in a match.
Trailing by as many as five points early, the Vols came back to tie the third set at 20-20 on a kill by Jimenez. LSU quickly regained momentum, winning four of the final five points.
