LSU volleyball to host Tennessee on ESPNU

For the second consecutive week, LSU volleyball will be showcased on ESPNU as the Tigers host preseason Southeastern Conference favorite Tennessee Wednesday at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m., and fans will have the opportunity to “Geaux Free” compliments of the Advocate. Gates will open one hour before first serve.

LSU will host “Serve it Up BBQ” before the match in front of the arena. There will be free food and entertainment while supplies last. The first 1,000 fans will receive an LSU volleyball tumbler.

LSU (7-10, 3-5 SEC) has a 33-19 series lead over the Lady Volunteers. However, Tennessee (11-5, 4-3 SEC) swept both meetings last season.

The Lady Vols picked up a pair of five-set home victories over Missouri and Georgia last weekend and have won five of their six five-set decisions. Reigning SEC Player of the Year, Kelsey Robinson, leads Tennessee and the SEC with 4.49 kills per set.

Kayla Jeter had 27 kills during the five-set win over Georgia.

Tennessee’s Ellen Mullens took home SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors after a career-best 34 digs against Missouri.

“Certainly, our matches with Tennessee are always great ones,” LSU coach Fran Flory said. “It is always a heated competition, and our kids enjoy it. I think their kids enjoy it as well. They are a very physical and talented team. We respect every player on their roster; those kids are great athletes. They were all highly recruited, and each one of them has the chance to change the match. The hard part is we have to prepare for a lot of different lineup possibilities, but we’ll be ready for the challenge.”

LSU has split its past six matches and is coming off a 3-0 sweep of South Carolina as the Tigers connected for a season-best .359 hitting percentage. Helen Boyle, Desiree Elliott and Madie Jones accounted for 44 of LSU’s 53 kills.

Malorie Pardo is seventh on the SEC’s assist list with 10.39 per set and has double-doubles in five of her past seven outings. She is 85 assists away from surpassing Brittney Johnson (2007-10) for the No. 8 spot on LSU’s all-time list.

LSU’s Meghan Mannari is 43 digs away from becoming the 12th player in program history to reach 1,000 career digs.

Live video for Wednesday’s match will be available at www.ESPN3.com or via the “Watch ESPN” app. Live stats will be carried inside the Geaux Zone at LSUsports.net/live.

Men’s basketball

JONES TALKS UP TEAM: LSU men’s basketball coach Johnny Jones talked about the start of practice Friday during the first of a series of monthly basketball luncheons Tuesday at the L’Auberge Resort.

“The season is going to be a difficult task, but we have a talented team that can compete in the SEC,” Jones told those in attendance. “Other teams may have size, but we have quickness that not many teams possess. I’m excited about the leadership that Anthony Hickey and Johnny O’Bryant have shown. They have brought the team together.”

LSU will conduct its media day activities on Wednesday. The interview sessions with women’s coach Nikki Caldwell and Jones will be broadcast live in the Geaux Zone. Caldwell’s session begins at 12:30 p.m., while Jones is set to speak at 1:05 p.m.

Season tickets for the Tigers and Lady Tigers will go on sale at 8 a.m. Wednesday. Season tickets can be purchased online at www.LSUtix.net, by calling (225) 578-2184, or on the first floor of the LSU Athletic Administration Building. Men’s season tickets start at $100, while women’s season tickets begin at $50.

LSU will hold the “Pass A Good Time” event at the Maravich Center from 6-8 p.m. Thursday. The first 1,500 people will receive and LSU stein mug and free food. Both basketball coaches and teams will be present to sign autographs and visit with fans.

Women’s swimming

LSU OPENS SEC SLATE AT VANDERBILT: The LSU women’s swimming team will take on Vanderbilt on Wednesday at 3 p.m. in a dual meet in Nashville, Tenn.

The Lady Tigers (1-0, 0-0 Southeastern Conference) ended last year’s conference run in fifth place and totaled 347 points. Vanderbilt finished 10th at the SEC Championships last season with 78 points.

LSU’s NCAA qualifiers Sara Haley, Torrey Bussey, Rainey White, Amber Carter and Marlene Niemi, along with the team’s other veterans, will use this meet to gauge their progress at this point in the training season.

LSU’s entire team will travel to face Auburn on Oct. 20.

Men’s golf

LSU 11TH IN LATEST GOLFWEEK RANKINGS: After capturing back-to-back tournament titles at the Shoal Creek Intercollegiate and David Toms Intercollegiate, the LSU men’s golf team is at to No. 11 in the latest Golfweek Top 25 rankings released Monday.

The Tigers moved up three spots in this week’s Golfweek/Sagarin Performance Index after opening at No. 14 in the first rankings on Oct. 1.

LSU’s Andrew Presley, Stewart Jolly, Myles Lewis and Curtis Thompson are ranked among Golfweek’s Top 100 players in the country for the fall season.

Jolly leads the team with a No. 28 national ranking, followed by Thompson (No. 33). Presley is No. 86, followed by Lewis at No. 87.