LSU volleyball lost one of its key players for the season before the school year even started.
Junior middle hitter Khourtni Fears is out for the season with a torn ACL after landing wrong in practice the week before move-in day.
At first, LSU coach Fran Flory and team trainers were hopeful the injury wasn’t serious and Fears could return for part of the season, but doctors later confirmed her left knee would need surgery.
Fears was not made available for comment, but Flory said though Fears took the news that she wouldn’t play this season hard, she’s been able to handle the situation well.
Despite the injury, Fears remains as active she can be with the team in practice, and her positive attitude has made the loss easier for her teammates.
“[Fears] has overcome a lot in her life,” Flory said. “This is just another road bump for her, and she knows she’s going to come out of it stronger. There’s nothing that’s been put in Khourtni’s pathway that she hasn’t overcome.”
Now the Tigers are forced to cope without Fears on the court after she produced 121 kills on a .273 hitting percentage during her sophomore campaign. She was also responsible for 55 total blocks last season and was expected to be a major contributor for LSU alongside sophomore middle hitter Briana Holman.
Holman previously told The Daily Reveille she’s used to playing with new and different people next to her.
“We’re all family here,” Holman said. “[Fears] played a big role on our team, but everyone is just going to have to step up. It was a big spot to fill, and nobody can fill that special place that she had. We’re just going to play for her this season and be there for her.”
Flory said the most immediate hit to the team on the court with Fears’ absence will be the loss of depth at middle hitter.
Flory said senior Madi Mahaffey is the front runner to take over at the middle blocker spot, which leaves a hole on the right side. Flory said she thinks junior Emily Ehrle or freshman Gina Tillis could step into the position.
“Our system is still our system,” Flory said. “We’re still going to set our middles first, we’re still going to run the same thing. One person doesn’t make our system. Our system is built and these kids are recruited into it.”
Flory said while the injury does hurt the team this season, it possibly puts the Tigers in a better position for future years by giving Fears an extra year of maturity.
Fears has not yet received a medical redshirt from the NCAA, but Flory said she has no doubt she will, considering she was hurt before the season began and never played a game.