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• Published: Nov 20, 2009

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Marina Skender, Brittnee Cooper and Michele Williams combined for 40 kills on a .388 hitting percentage to power the No. 17 LSU volleyball team to a 3-0 sweep of Mississippi State on Friday at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

Skender had 14 kills and 10 digs for her team-leading 13th double-double of the season as LSU won 25-18, 25-21, 25-20.

Cooper and Williams had 13 kills apiece as both attacked at over a .400 clip. Cooper also chipped in four blocks.

Sam Dabbs passed out a match-best 40 assists and added six digs as the Tigers remained in sole possession of second place and a half-match behind Kentucky in the overall Southeastern Conference standings.

“Our middle blockers (Cooper and Williams), when we pass well, are awfully difficult to defend,” coach Fran Flory said. “It’s tough because they’re two different styles, so you’ve got to try to have the right type of middle blocker against each of them.

“It’s hard to have that. Our backcourt did a great job of controlling the ball, and Sam Dabbs did a great job of setting again.”

LSU (23-5, 17-2 SEC) has won 16 of its last 17 matches and extended its winning streak to 29 over SEC Western Division opponents dating to the 2006 season.

Lauren Waclawczyk corralled a match-high 19 digs, while Sam Delahoussaye and Lauren DeGirolamo accounted for eight digs each for LSU.

Caitlin Race recorded nine kills and Dorey Gray distributed 28 assists to go along with 11 digs to pace Mississippi State (8-22, 4-15), which had its two-match winning streak end.

LSU closes out the home portion of its regular-season schedule at 1:30 p.m. Sunday against Alabama.