Troy Battles Back To Take Down LSU In Five Sets

Saturday, September 18

Birmingham, Ala.

4 p.m.

Troy University

6-4,0-0Sun Belt

LSU

4-5,0-0SEC

Troy

LSU

Troy Battles Back To Take Down LSU In Five Sets

9/18/2021 8:28:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Troy Athletics Communications

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – For the second time this year, an SEC opponent has fallen at the hands of Troy, after the Trojans came back from two sets to one to defeat LSU in five sets 3-2 (25-20, 20-25,18-25, 27-25,15-13) Saturday night from Birmingham, Alabama at the Samford Invitational.

This is the third Power Five school the Trojans have defeated, adding to their historic season.

The Trojans (6-4) had four players with double-digit kills led by Alison Siersma, who tallied 17 kills and two service aces. Amara Anderson recorded her second game of over 50 assists and a second double-double of the season, finishing with 51 assists and 19 digs to lead the Trojans.

Kylie Deberg-Kuyava led LSU (4-5) with 21 kills and 14 digs. In addition, the Tigers had 20 blocks in comparison to only three by Troy.

"I'm so proud of our players," head coach Josh Lauer said. "Their commitment to each other and determination in the fourth and fifth sets were tremendous. Having four players with double-digit kills helped us offensively. Amara and Lacey played excellent defense, and the energy from the bench was terrific. Just a fantastic team effort and win for the program."

First Set: Troy got off to a fast start getting out to a 4-0 lead. Cheyenne Hayes had back-to-back kills to start another 4-0 run to push the trojan's lead to 12-7. Caitlin Cooper would push the lead to six and force an LSU timeout, with Troy leading 20-14. Troy led the entire first set and would take the set 25-20 after a Julia Brooks kill and an attack error by the Tigers.

Second Set: The second set saw seven lead changes. After Troy tied the match at four, the two teams traded points back and forth and remained tied, 9-9, before Amara Anderson recorded a service ace, and then the Tigers recorded back-to-back blocks to gain a three-point advantage. LSU carried a 15-12 lead into the media timeout. LSU's size up front caused problems all night long, and the score from the first set would flip in favor of the Tigers favor this time around 25-20 to tie the match up at one set apiece.

Third Set: LSU came out on the front foot, jumping out to a 14-7 lead. The Trojans did their best to battle back, but the deficit was just too large to overcome as LSU would go on to win 25-18

Fourth Set: The fourth set saw another back-and-forth affair. Troy would have set point after a Halston Hillier service ace and a Siersma kills to make it 24-20. But the Tigers wouldn't go quietly and fought back to tie things at 24 all. After a few long rally Trojans would take the set 27-25 after two straight service errors by the Tigers.

Fifth Set: Troy would once again battle back after getting down early 8-11. Trojans dug deep and forced three more attack errors by LSU, and Hayes would get a kill to give the Trojans a 12-11 lead. With the set tied at 13-13, the Tiger's service errors continued, and Anderson and Hayes teamed up as they have done all year to give the Trojans the fifth and final set 15-13.

Up Next: Troy will finish off the Samford Invitational on Sunday, September 19^th, when they play host Samford at 2:00 p.m. from the Pete Hanna Center.