One of the true signs of a mature collegiate program in any sport is its ability to bounce back following tough, closely contested losses.
The No. 20 LSU volleyball team, with its roster of eight underclassmen, has certainly done that in the past two weeks. After losing to No. 6 Florida, 3-1, on Sept. 23, the Tigers traveled to face two Southeastern Conference opponents this past weekend and came away with two wins – one against Auburn and another against Georgia.
The Tigers (13-2, 5-1) will attempt to continue their quest for their third consecutive SEC Western Division title when they face Alabama on Friday and Mississippi State on Sunday in the PMAC.
Throughout the past few years, the LSU-Alabama matchup has developed into one of the most competitive rivalries in the conference. The teams, who will square off Friday for the Western Division lead, have alternated victories the past three seasons. The road team has not won on its opponents’ home court since the Crimson Tide beat the Tigers in the PMAC in 2003.
“Both of our programs have kind of grown and progressed from not being at the top of the SEC to being teams that are now in the NCAA Tournament almost every year,” said LSU coach Fran Flory. “We’re both vying for the top of the West, and I think both of us feel like we need to stay right on the heels of Florida.”
This weekend’s matches also mark the beginning of the Tigers’ “Dig for the Cure” campaign, which benefits the Susan B. Komen for the Cure Foundation and breast cancer research.
Admission into the PMAC is free for any fan wearing pink, and the first 200 fans who arrive for the Alabama match will receive a piggy bank to use for collecting change for breast cancer research. Fans are encouraged to turn in the piggy banks at LSU’s Oct. 19 match against Arkansas.
—-Contact Tyler Batiste at [email protected]