University of Georgia Athletics
Georgia Volleyball Falls Short Against No. 10 LSU
October 27, 2006 | Volleyball
"This was some of the highest-level volleyball we have played all season," Legall said. "We played effectively along the net and in the backcourt as well as with our passing and defense. I thought the first game was one of our best games all year.”
Sophomore Maria Taylor, who is now eight kills shy of 700 for her career, notched a game-high 21 kills and posted a .356 hitting percentage for the Bulldogs, while junior Chelsea Young finished with 32 assists. In addition, Brooke Burlingame had a game-high 19 digs and now has 1,055 digs for her career at Georgia.
“Maria had a great offensive match tonight,” said Legall, adding that Taylor also had three total blocks. “I am also excited that she is learning to read the game from a defensive standpoint as well. My hat is off to her for her effort tonight.”
The Bulldogs (6-17, 2-11 Southeastern Conference) traded points with the Tigers (19-3, 11-2) in the opening game and held a late 25-23 lead, but LSU, who has only lost to seventh-ranked Florida and Alabama in the SEC this season, pulled out the win. Taylor completed the first game with 10 kills on 15 attacks for a hitting percentage of .600.
LSU’s Marina Skender, who tops the SEC in service aces, tallied three aces in the second game and anchored the Tigers’ offense. Although the Bulldogs went point-for-point with LSU during the first half of the game, LSU was able to pull away and record the 30-19 win.
Georgia jumped on the Tigers 10-4 in the third game and held a 26-24 lead in the final minutes of the match. But Skender, who finished with 12 kills and 16 digs, and Daniela Romero, who dished out 46 assists, helped lead LSU on its final scoring rally and the Tigers concluded the match with a 30-28 win.
"The third game of the match was the same story as the first two," said Legall. "Both teams battled on offense and on defense and I am proud of how our players came out the way they did in the third game. They had the attitude in that game that they were going to try to win and see where that led them in a fourth or even fifth game.”
Georgia returns to its home court on Sunday, Oct. 29, at 2 p.m. to face Arkansas during the SEC Match of the Week. The Bulldogs fell to the Lady Razorbacks 3-0 in Fayetteville, Ark., on Sept. 22.
