Callin' Baton Rouge: LSU beats Kentucky VB in SEC opener

It wasn’t the start No. 15 Kentucky volleyball hoped for. The Wildcats opened conference play with a 3-2 defeat to LSU in five sets on Saturday afternoon. With the loss, the ‘Cats move to 5-5 (0-1) on the year. This was the first time since October of 2014 that LSU picked up a ranked win on the road, the last also coming against UK.

Although there’s a long road to follow with Kentucky just over one-third into its season, this isn’t the start head coach Craig Skinner would have hoped for. The Wildcats have lost their last three matches and four out of their last five. If the losses are going to come now, so be it, as long as they aren’t stacking up in November, heading into December.

Keep your foot on the gas

The opening set was solid for Kentucky, which saw them beat LSU 25-19.

Azhani Tealer wasn’t in the starting lineup for the ‘Cats due to an injury that has her sidelined day-to-day. Jordyn Williams picked up a rare start for Kentucky and recorded a kill.

Reagan Rutherford, to nobody’s shock, was massive for Kentucky with 22 kills in the match. A stat that was the most out of any player in the match. Rutherford had a decisive kill early on in the match which helped the ‘Cats win the first set.

😳 Tell us why this shouldn’t be worth 2 points 😳@Reaganrutherfrd

📺 SECN+
📱 https://t.co/Ujy9JisQt4
📊 https://t.co/uSI9vOIm7a#WeAreUK pic.twitter.com/gNBW27Afze

— Kentucky Volleyball (@KentuckyVB) September 24, 2022

The next two sets didn’t go Kentucky’s way and they were trailing 2-1 in the blink of an eye.

LSU’s defense had been solid throughout the match, as they out-blocked the Wildcats 11-5. If Kentucky hopes to defend its SEC crown, they cannot let another squad dominate them defensively as they did on Saturday.

The Tigers took their largest lead of the contest when they went up 17-13 in the second set. LSU stayed hot, winning the second set 25-17, evening the match.

LSU had three players with more than 10 kills including a couple from Hannah Jacobs which proved to be pivotal in the third set. The visitors had most of the control in the third set, but Kentucky was able to cut the lead to 23-21 late. However, LSU was too much for the ‘Cats, winning the set 25-22.

Backs against the wall

In a fourth set that Kentucky had to win, they looked flawless. The set seemed to be over from the start. A 10-3 lead early proved that the Wildcats weren’t messing around and wouldn’t go down without a fight.

Rutherford’s kill where she pretended to spike it but just dropped over the LSU defense put Kentucky up 16-5 in the fourth set. The rest was clockwork for the ‘Cats as they cruised to a 25-15 set victory, tying the match up 2-2.

The fifth set proved to be Kentucky’s enemy for the third time this season. The ‘Cats are now 0-3 in five-set affairs after losing to LSU, with the other losses coming versus No. 2 Louisville and No. 19 Marquette.

LSU got off to an 8-5 lead in the fifth set and didn’t look back. The Tigers went on to win the fifth 15-11 and the match 3-2.

ANOTHER TIGER WIN! 💜💛

The last time LSU beat a ranked opponent on the road was at No. 12 Kentucky on Oct. 19, 2014! #GeauxTigers | #EarnedIt | #SECVB pic.twitter.com/xq5egNfdQY

— LSU Volleyball (@lsuvolleyball) September 24, 2022

The ‘Cats are back in action on Sunday as they hope to salvage a win against LSU before the Tigers’ time in Lexington is over. The match is set to begin at 12:00 p.m. EST on the SEC Network as the ‘Cats hope to get to a .500 conference record with a win.