“This is a great freshmen class,” said LSU head coach Fran Flory. “Maybe one of the best I’ve had.”

This year’s recruiting class was ranked No. 29 in the nation by PrepVolleyball.com. Although this is a young group, the new faces on this team are expected to play a significant role in the team’s success this season.

“Our freshman class is going to be the difference this season,” senior libero Meghan Mannari said. “They are challenging us, not only in volleyball, but also in conditioning.”

Arguably the most highly anticipated of these freshmen is outside and right side hitter Cati Leak.

During her career at Guntersville High School in Alabama, Leak collected a number of accolades, including three state championships, three State

Tournament MVP awards and two Alabama Gatorade Player of the Year awards. She was also selected to multiple high school All-American teams.

“It would be amazing if [Leak] doesn’t start and play six rotations for us,” Flory said. “Not many freshmen can come in and do that.”

Flory was enthusiastic about Leak’s performance so far in practice, citing her work ethic as a primary reason for her success.  

“The best part about Cati is that she works as hard as anyone else,” Flory said. “She thinks she has to earn everything she gets here. She is probably the star of the future for us.”

Leak has also made an impression on her veteran teammates.

“She’s a smart player,” said Mannari. “She mixes up her shots, gets the ball to target when she is in the back row passing, and gives everyone a challenge.”

Khourtni Fears, a middle blocker from Houston, Texas, has also stood out in practice. She is also looking to make an impact early in her career at LSU.

Fears shined in her time at Bellaire High School, leading her team to four district titles. She was ranked No. 27 on PrepVolleyball.com’s Senior Aces.
“[Fears] is a tremendous athlete,” Flory said. “She is fast, dynamic and fits right into our system.”

One new face on the Tigers’ roster joins the team as a junior. Setter

Jaclynn Gerig, a transfer from Blinn College, flourished at the junior college level, finishing third in the NJCAA with 11.04 assists per game last season and leading her team to a 38-0 season and the 2011 NJCAA Division I National Championship.

Flory said she looks for Gerig to challenge sophomore primary setter Malarie Pardo to continue to play her best.

The Tigers also added defensive specialist Haley Smith from Meraux, La., who was named Miss Louisiana Volleyball and the Louisiana All-Star Game MVP in 2010.

LSU acquired another outside hitter in Katie Lindelow, from Mandeville, La. Lindelow is recovering from an offseason knee injury, but according to Flory, she is progressing and still performing well in practice.