The LSU volleyball team earned a spot in the NCAA volleyball tournament Sunday night as the NCAA Selection Committee announced the Tigers will travel to Seattle to take on Michigan in the tournament’s opening round.
LSU (18-12) is in the Los Angeles Regional under No. 3 Washington — a potential second round matchup should the Tigers advance.
“I’m just happy for the kids,” said LSU coach Fran Flory. “This group of kids really deserves to be in. They’ve worked so hard and they’ve done any and everything we’ve asked them to do and really committed to being an NCAA tournament team and I’m just really thrilled for them. 
The trip marks the first time in three seasons LSU has made the tournament after failing to earn a spot in 2011 and 2012.
One of the last teams to be announced, LSU fell to the final regional bracket, but LSU coach Fran Flory said she wasn’t as worried about the drop as her players may have been because she’s been through it before.
“At this point, you really can’t do anything about it,” Flory said. “You’ve done your work and we’re thankful to the fans and we’re thankful to the committee and I’m thankful to represent LSU and to pursue the National Championship.”
LSU is one of eight Southeastern Conference schools to make it into the tournament, including national seed, No. 4 Missouri, who beat the Tigers 3-1 in Baton Rouge during the regular season. 
Flory’s Alma Mater Texas earned the top national seed in the tournament after amassing a 23-2 record as defending national champions. Texas beat LSU in straight sets during earlier in the season.
“Once you get in, it’s anybody’s game,” Flory said. “I think the hard part is trying to make sure you get in. When you’re a bubble team like we are, you’re just grateful of the chance to go play with that kind of reckless abandon and say, ‘Hey, you’re one and done, so play as hard as you can and do everything you can.’”