The Sandy Tigs are heading into the 2024 season with high hopes after a second-round exit in the 2023 NC Beach Volleyball Championship. Despite losing half of its starting lineup, the beach volleyball team is ripe with talent and ready to show off its new look.
Of the 24 listed on the roster, here are nine with strong resumes and high expectations.
No. 15 Ellie Shank
Shank highlights the returners for the Tigers. The senior was named a First Team All-American in 2023 after going 23-12 on Court 1 with Kylie DeBerg and 25-13 overall. She also received 2023 CCSA All-Conference honors.
In 2022, Shank was awarded AVCA Top Flight for her performance on Court 5 with Sierra Caffo. She went 15-3 with Caffo to earn the honor.
Aside from spring competition with LSU, Shank has also played in and won a couple of championships. She and DeBerg won the Fall AVCA Pairs National Championship and the USA Volleyball Women’s Beach Collegiate Championship in 2022.
Shank enters her senior season with a 60-24 record overall. She has multiple top 20 wins, with notable ones over UCLA, Florida State and Stanford.
No. 10 Parker Bracken
Bracken has been a bright spot for the Tigers since her freshman season in 2022. She returns for her junior season with a new expectation of leadership.
In the 2023 season, the Ridgeland, Mississippi native finished with a 28-10 overall record. She primarily played with Grace Seits on Court 2; the duo went 24-10 and earned CCSA All-Tournament Team honors.
In 2022, Bracken was named to the CCSA All-Freshman team after a 23-20 campaign. She played primarily on Court 1 and Court 2 but was moved throughout the lineup to help the Tigers in different ways. She also received AVCA Top Flight honors after a 14-4 record on Court 2 with Kylie DeBerg.
Bracken told the Reveille in April 2023 that her two seasons of playing time would help her be a better leader. She attributes this to “know[ing] a little bit more of what [she’s] doing” going into the 2024 season.
No. 22 Reilly Allred
Allred is back for her senior year with the Tigers and is on track for another good season. In her three seasons with LSU, she has compiled an overall record of 59-23.
Last season, Allred went 21-10. She played mostly on Court 3 with Hannah Brister and the duo finished 19-10. They racked up a handful of ranked wins throughout the season.
In 2022, Allred went 32-11, again playing primarily on Court 3. She played with Holly Carlton and they recorded a 30-6 record as a pair. Her freshman season in 2021 was a short but sweet campaign of 6-2.
No. 3 Ella Larkin
The former dual-sport athlete is coming off of a fall semester full of beach training rather than indoor competition. Larkin went 30-6 in 2023. Her role was fulfilled mostly on Court 4, where she went 24-6.
Larkin finished the 2023 season with AVCA Top Flight honors after her performance with Lara Boos. She and Boos went 28-6 together and also received CCSA Pair of the Week honors during the season.
Larkin is well trained in the sand and has several years of experience behind her. In addition to her beach training, she also has years of defensive training from the indoor game.
As a former AVCA South All-Region selection for her performance in the libero position, the junior will get through the sand this season with strong defensive efforts.
READ MORE: No shoes, just sand: Why Ella Larkin left LSU indoor volleyball to only play beach volleyball
No. 11 Gabi Bailey
Bailey joins the Tigers for her graduate season after a decorated career at the College of Charleston. With the indoor Cougars, she made a heavy mark during her junior and senior seasons.
In 2022, Bailey was looked at as a senior leader and carried the weight of the role well. She started all 27 matches and ended the season with a team-high 10 double-doubles.
In 2021 during her junior campaign, she also started all 28 matches and finished with a team-high 12 double-doubles.
The strongest skill Bailey brings with her from Charleston is her tough serve. Also, as one of the taller players on the team, she’ll be a strong blocker for LSU this season.
Bailey found her passion for beach volleyball when she transferred to Charleston. She played her first sand game with the Cougars in 2022 and fulfilled a crucial role for them in two seasons of play. In 2022, she went 25-10, and in 2023, she went 20-8.
No. 25 Emily Meyer
Meyer prepares for her first season as a Tiger after starting her career at Florida International University.
In 2023 at FIU, Meyer went 20-14. She split time between Court 4 and Court 5, recording an 8-10 and 11-4 record on each, respectively. In 2022, she went 19-14. She also saw time on the court with the indoor Panthers.
Meyer is a native of New Orleans and attended Mount Carmel Academy. The Tigers have known of her since she was a junior player, according to Head Coach Russell Brock, and are looking forward to having her back in the home state.
No. 1 Gracey Campbell
Campbell transferred to LSU after playing one season at Pepperdine. The Corinth, Texas native played in every match for the Waves in 2023, finishing her freshman campaign with a 20-13 record.
Campbell’s freshman year performance landed her a spot on the WCC All-Freshman team. She primarily played on Court 4. Her best skill is her defense, but she has been recognized as a great offensive weapon as well.
In her junior years, Campbell made deep runs in both AVP and AAU National Championships, showing to be a great competitor despite her young age.
No. 9 Skylar Martin
Martin is a freshman who’s used to achieving greatness. She joins the Tigers with three USA Volleyball Beach National Championships to her name.
The Canton, Georgia native is a versatile athlete with a wide variety of shots. Rather than only relying on the power of her swing, Martin knows when to switch things up with her ball placement. She’s also a strong defender for LSU and moves quickly in the sand.
Martin also brings All-American talent with her to Baton Rouge. She is one of eight freshmen in the country who received 2023 AVCA Junior Beach First Team All-American honors.
No. 23 Amelia Taft
Taft had originally committed to South Carolina but flipped her commitment in 2022 to become a Tiger. She’s another freshman coming to LSU with her eyes set on being great.
Hailing from Greenville, North Carolina, Taft played both indoor and beach volleyball during her junior years. Standing at 6-feet, she’s one of the tallest players for LSU, which adds to the team’s strength blocking. She also has a good vision for what shots to make and when to make them.
The Tiger roster is deep with talent, so the lineup is bound to see changes throughout the season. LSU fans should keep an eye out on how these players contribute in competition this year.
The first weekend of gameplay for LSU beach volleyball will take place in Houston, Texas on Feb. 23 and 24. The Sandy Tigs will face No. 15 Washington, Houston Christian, Central Arkansas and TCU.
