LSU’s volleyball team gathered Sunday evening to celebrate the Tigers’ third-straight bid to the NCAA Division 1 Women’s Volleyball Championship.
LSU (24-7) faces No. 14-ranked New Mexico St. (26-5) Friday in Austin, Texas. LSU received an at-large bid to the tournament within the Gainesville, Fla., regional.
“I don’t know a lot about New Mexico State, but I know they’re very good because they’ve been nationally ranked throughout the year,” said LSU volleyball coach Fran Flory. “This is where we expected to go. We’re not surprised.”
If LSU defeats New Mexico State in the first round, the Tigers will face the winner of the Texas State and No. 4-seeded Texasmatch-up.
“Texas is a great team, but we’re not going to look past New Mexico State,” Flory said.
Five Southeastern Conference teams received bids to the tournament, including Ole Miss, Kentucky, Florida and Alabama.
Flory said she was disappointed Tulane (28-6) did not make it into the tournament. Tulane defeated LSU, 3-2, Saturday in the Tigers’ last home match.
“We had the opportunities but didn’t seize the moments,” Flory said of the loss to Tulane. “But I believe that you certainly learn more about your team when you lose.”
LSU sophomore middle blocker Lauren Girolamo was the most visibly nervous team member before the selections were announced.
“It’s always so nerve-wracking,” DeGirolamo said. “Being in Austin is good because it’s closer to home and hopefully we’ll get some fan support.”
Freshman setter Brittney Johnson said she was “very excited” to be going to her first NCAA tournament match.
“I knew when I came to LSU that we would have a strong chance to make it back to the NCAA tournament,” she said.
It was a family affair for Johnson, as her mother Bonita Johnson attended the selection show and plans to travel to Austin.
Bonita Johnson coached her daughter at University Lab High School and played basketball for LSU under former coach Sue Gunter.
“This brings back a lot of memories,” she said. “I think I was more nervous tonight than she was.”
—-Contact Amy Brittain at [email protected]