There’s no place LSU volleyball coach Fran Flory would rather start the 2015 regular season than in Austin, Texas — as long as she’s with LSU.
Flory, a University of Texas alumna, will lead her Tigers into their first game of the season at 2:30 p.m. Friday at the American Campus Classic against UC Irvine in Gregory Gymnasium.
But when Flory returns to her native gym, she won’t be throwing up the “Hook ’em, Horns” gesture anymore.
“The tournament is going to be a tough tournament with great teams that will be there,” Flory said. “It is nice to go back, but I don’t always throw up the ‘Hook ’em’ sign when they introduce me because I just can’t quite do it the same way anymore.”
The Tigers, who finished last season 20-9 overall and 14-4 in the Southeastern Conference, enter the season with five returning starters.
They will be led by a senior leadership corps with outside hitter Katie Lindelow, right-side hitter Cati Leak, defensive specialist Haley Smith and middle blocker Emily Ehrle. Flory said this year’s group of leaders is different from other teams she’s had — but for good reasons.
“We have a group of committed leaders that we’ve never had and such great leadership in our group,” Flory said. “We have talented athletes who are on a mission, not for themselves [but] for the purple and gold — for the letters on the front, not the ones on the back. They are driven, and they are going to be special.”
Lindelow, Leak and Smith are the captains for the 2015 team and will lead 11 returning letterwinners, five incoming freshmen and one transfer.
“We’re excited,” Lindelow said. “Last year we were young, so this year we have more experience. As upperclassmen, we feel like we have more experience. The younger kids are great. They jumped right into practice and are playing really well. … We are working hard together, and I think that’s kind of the most important part right now.”
The Tigers expect to see intense competition this weekend. Flory said the matches at the beginning of the season are crucial throughout the year and into the postseason.
“Your postseason opportunities are defined by the opponents you play pre-conference,” Flory said. “You have to play the right people to have a chance to have significant wins to get into the NCAA Tournament at the end and have a chance to be seeded in the NCAA Tournament.”
Following the Tigers’ match with the Anteaters, LSU will take on Rice at 10 a.m.
Saturday and No. 3 Texas at 7:30 p.m. Sunday to round out the weekend’s matches.