Comeback Falls Short, Georgia Falls in Five Sets to LSU

Friday, March 19

Baton Rouge, La.

8:00 p.m.

University of Georgia

LSU

Comeback Falls Short, Georgia Falls in Five Sets to LSU

March 19, 2021 | Volleyball

Box Score

BATON ROUGE, La. – Down two sets to none in Friday's match, Georgia volleyball came back to win sets three and four to force a fifth set against LSU. Georgia fell in the final set 15-13 to drop the five-set match at Pete Maravich Assembly Center (16-25, 17-25, 25-20, 25-22, 15-13).

The Bulldogs' offense was led by a season-best 21 kills from sophomore Kacie Evans. Junior Sage Naves also tallied a season high with 10 kills, her first double-digit kill match of the season. Naves also led the Bulldogs with five total blocks on the evening, tying a season best.

Redshirt-juniors Claire Rothenberger and Dalaney Hans co-led the team with nine digs each. Hans dished out 23 assists while fellow setter Brynn Chandler handed out 21. Chandler recorded a season-best four aces at the service line.

The first set remained close to start as LSU led by only a couple points in the first half of the frame. With Georgia down only two points, 16-14, LSU used a 5-0 run to open a 21-14 lead. A couple Tiger errors ended the run and brought the Bulldogs within five, 21-16; however, LSU regrouped to win the next four rallies and take the opening set, 25-16.

Set two was all LSU after the Tigers jumped out to a quick 6-1 lead in the set. Down 20-12, Georgia won five of the next seven points to chip away at the deficit, 22-17. LSU halted the Georgia comeback and took a 2-0 lead in the match with a 25-17 set two win. Evans picked up six kills in the second set.

The third set was the closest of the match yet as it featured 11 ties and four lead changes. The teams exchanged points deep into the set. Knotted at 13, the Bulldogs mounted a 7-1 run to open a 20-14 advantage. The run was too much for the Tigers to overcome as Georgia avoided the sweep with a 25-20 win in set three.

Georgia used its momentum from set three to open set four with an 8-2 lead over LSU. The Bulldogs kept the lead, leading at 13-8. The Tigers used a 4-0 run to shrink the Bulldogs' advantage to one, forcing a timeout from the Bulldogs bench, 13-12. After some back-and-forth action and tied at 19, the Bulldogs used a 4-1 run to take a 23-20 lead and force LSU to use its final timeout. Georgia was able to hold off the Tigers to win the set, 25-22, and force a fifth and final set. Three of Chandler's aces came at the line in set four.

Three-straight points from the Bulldogs, including back-to-back Naves kills, opened a 5-3 lead in the fifth. The Tigers used a timeout to regroup, down 8-5. After the break, seven-straight gave LSU a 12-8 lead on the Bulldogs. Georgia won five of the next seven to make it a one-point set late, 14-13, but the 30^th kill from LSU's Taylor Bannister sealed the match for the Tigers, 15-13.

Georgia and LSU will face off again Saturday in Baton Rouge. First serve is set for 8 p.m., ET.