LSU Beach Closes Regular Season With Win Over Houston Baptist

Press Release courtesy of LSU Athletics

After the No. 8 LSU beach volleyball team fell to Florida State in the morning, the Tigers closed out with a win against Houston Baptist at the final match at Mango’s Beach Club to close out the season.

“To finish out the weekend with a win on senior day, the last match at Mango’s, it’s a good story,” said coach Russell Brock.

The Tigers are now 22-10 on the season.

Heading into the match, LSU and Florida State were both riding double digit win-streaks. The Seminoles would extend their streak to 11 matches, snapping the Tiger’s 14-match win-streak.

LSU jumped out to an early lead when Megan Davenport and Emmy Allen earned a straight set win on Court 4, 21-17 and 21-16. Riley Young and Maddie Ligon took Court five in three sets. After taking the first set, 21-14, the LSU duo dropped the second set, 21-14. In the deciding set, Young and Ligon battled in extra points, earning a 17-15 win and giving the Tigers a 2-0 lead.

LSU suffered straight-set losses on Courts 1-3 as the Seminoles came to back to earn the victory. Haleigh Nelson and Mandi Orellana dropped set two, 21-10, after falling in the first set, 21-17 on Court 2. Olivia Powers and Hunter Domanski suffered back-to-back, 21-15, set losses, as FSU evened the match.

“Any time you play somebody and you can play them agains, there is a much better understanding of what it will take to beat them,” said Brock of potentially facing Florida State again next week at the CCSA Tournament.

On Court 1, Claire Coppola and Kristen could not mount a comeback after dropping the first set, 21-13. With the second set tied at 18, FSU gained three consecutive points to defeat the LSU pair.

In the regular season match of the season and last match at Mango’s Beach Club before LSU moves to its noew on-campus facility, the Tigers and Houston Baptist faced eachother.

On Court 5, Young and Lilly Kessler earned a straight set victory, 21-11 and 21-9. Shortly after, Davenport and Allen did the same on Court 4, winning 21-11 in both sets.

The Court 3 pair of Domanski and Powers finished in straight sets, earning 21-11 and 21-12 victories. Nelson and Orellana took forced a third set on Court 2 when the duo won 21-17 in the second set after falling 21-8 in the first set. In the third set, Nelson and Orellana won, 15-10.

All three sets on Court 1 went extra points. Coppola and Nuss took the first set, 29-27, before falling in set two, 25-23. In the third set, Coppola and Nuss were outlasted as they fell, 16-14.

Following the conclusion of the of the match against Houston Baptist on Sunday, LSU hosted its senior tribute. The Tigers honored nine seniors and graduate players including manager Avery Thibodeaux, Lilly Kessler, Haleigh Nelson, Emily Hardesty, Gina Tillis, Cheyenne Wood, Emmy Allen, Mandi Orellana and Riley Young.

#7 Florida State def #8 LSU Tigers, 3-2

1. Vanessa Freire/Tory Paranagua (FSU) def. Claire Coppola/Kristen Nuss (LSU) 21-13, 21-18
2. Katie Horton/Hailey Luke (FSU) def. Haleigh Nelson/Mandi Orellana (LSU) 21-17, 21-10
3. Sara Putt/Macy Jerger (FSU) def. Olivia Powers/Hunter Domanski (LSU) 21-15, 21-15
4. Megan Davenport/Emmy Allen (LSU) def. Brooke Kuhlman/Molly McBain (FSU) 21-17, 21-16
5. Riley Young/Maddie Ligon (LSU) def. Francesca Goncalves/Eva Torruella (FSU) 21-14, 14-21, 17-15

Ext. Ali Eager/Alaina Chacon (FSU) def. Ashley Allmer/Lilly Kessler (LSU) 29-31, 21-10, 15-9

#8 LSU Tigers 4, Houston Baptist 1

1. Jessica Wooten/Aeriel Horton (HBU) def. Claire Coppola/Kristen Nuss (LSU) 27-29, 25-23, 16-14
2. Haleigh Nelson/Mandi Orellana (LSU) def. Kayla Armer/Tori Hinojosa (HBU) 8-21, 21-17, 15-10
3. Hunter Domanski/Olivia Powers (LSU) def. Bailey Banks/Katya Silveria (HBU) 21-11, 21-12
4. Megan Davenport/Emmy Allen (LSU) def. Brennan Miller/Kali Fluke (HBU) 21-11, 21-11
5. Riley Young/Lilly Kessler (LSU) def. Mikayla Vivens/Danielle Wheeler (HBU) 21-11, 21-9