The volleyball team traveled to Charleston, S.C. yesterday inpreparation for its 7 p.m. match up tonight against the SouthCarolina Gamecocks. The Tigers will continue their road trip to theUniversity of Tennessee to take on the nationally ranked LadyVolunteers Sunday afternoon.
With the Southeastern Conference tournament just a few weeksaway, team members are hoping to get a few more SEC wins undertheir belts. Coach Fran Flory said its opponents this weekend willbe a tough battle in both matches.
“South Carolina is a very athletic team and has a greatdeal of potential,” Flory said. “They have a athleticgame, a very dangerous team and any moment they can take off and besuccessful. Tennessee is a legitimate top 20 team. Team wise theyare very efficient and they put a lot of ball away and theydon’t give you a lot so you’re going to have to earnwhat you get.”
With two successful teams on the other side of the court, theTigers will have to find a way to dominate. Flory said the team ismore focused on its performance than its opponents.
“We’re going to have to do a good job of controllingthe ball and keeping it on our side and staying in thesystem,” Flory said. “That will give us the bestopportunity. I think it’s going to be a very toughmatch.”
The Tigers are coming off a successful weekend at home when theydefeated the University of Auburn and Alabama to improve its SECrecord to 5-7. Team members said they hope to maintain theirmomentum going into its next match up against two more SECopponents.
“We have to come prepared to play. It’s going to bea long travel day so we just have to come in ready,” senioroutside hitter Regan Hood said. “I think it’s going tobe a good weekend and a great test because we had a really goodweekend last weekend and the new lineup it will be interested tosee how we play against a ranked team.”
LSU will face off against the Gamecocks tonight at 6 p.m. inColumbia, South Carolina. From there, the Tigers travel toKnoxville, Tenn. for its match up with the Vols on Sunday at 1 p.m.This weekend marks the first time the Tigers have faced both teams.”We want to win — that’s about it,” junioroutside hitter Jelena Mijatovic said. “As long as we takecare of business on our side and stay confident I don’t thinkwe should have any problems.”