The LSU sand volleyball team made its public debut Wednesday when it held its first Purple & Gold scrimmage to preview the program’s inaugural season.
The exhibition served as the Tigers’ first taste of competition before they take on Louisiana-Monroe on Tuesday in their season opener.
“We wanted to see how they played with each other and against each other,” said LSU coach Russell Brock. “This is all data that we’ll use to try to formulate our teams, and we’ve got another couple practices left this week that we’re going to use to get everything lined up and ready for next Tuesday.
Brock said the way the Tigers performed excited him, especially considering the windy conditions they faced.
He said the coaching staff became concerned that the strong winds might stifle the new program and give players new to the outdoor game problems, but it turned out to be more beneficial to the Tigers than harmful.
“When we saw 20 mph winds with 30 mph gusts, we didn’t really know if we’d get much information, if any at all, from today,” Brock said. “The fact that they did as well as they did was really encouraging and exciting.”
Most spectators watched LSU’s heavy hitters on court No. 1, occupied by seniors Meghan Mannari and Kaitlin Hatcher and sophomores Cati Leak and Katie Lindelow.
Mannari and Lindelow defeated Leak and Hatcher in the first two sets before switching things up for the next two contests in which the combination of Mannari and Leak bested Lindelow and Hatcher.
“We knew that Cati, Katie, Meghan and Kaitlin were all going to play really well,” Brock said. “The fact that they were playing such high-level volleyball in the conditions that we had today was really impressive. We kind of expected that.”
Hatcher, who is playing volleyball competitively for the first time since leaving UNO, called having her name announced as a Tiger for the first time “the best experience of her life.”
“It’s my last year as a senior, my last time to [play for a collegiate team], I’m playing sand [volleyball], my favorite sport; It’s definitely a dream come true,” Hatcher said.
Brock also noted juniors Helen Boyle and Malorie Pardo as players who stepped up during the scrimmage.
The environment at the event proved to be as relaxed as a day at the beach.
Many fans littered Mango’s Beach Volleyball Club as they roamed from court to court, while others watched from the comfort of the bar area and enjoyed the establishment’s food and beverages.
“It’s a different environment than indoor where when you’re serving it’s quiet and you don’t hear anything,” Mannari said. “Out here, you’re outside, it’s a pretty day, you’re in the sand and there’s music playing with people around. It’s just a really fun environment to get our first real game.”
“It’s my last year as a senior, my last time to [play for a collegiate team], I’m playing sand [volleyball], my favorite sport; It’s definitely a dream come true.”

Gallery • 10 Photos

Taylor Balkom

LSU sophomore Katie Lindelow (5) returns a volley Wednesday, March 12, 2014 during a scrimmage at Mango's Outdoor Volleyball.