Anytime in-state rival schools meet, there is some extra incentive involved — namely bragging rights.There is no exception whenever LSU plays Tulane in any sport.But when LSU’s No. 15-seeded volleyball team takes on Tulane (18-9) tonight in the first round of the NCAA tournament in the PMAC, a lot more is on the line than just a win. This time, it’s win or go home.”We are both going to show up because it’s do or die,” said LSU senior setter Sam Dabbs. “It’s going to be a war out there. It’s going to be fun, but it’s going to be a fight to the end.”Although other sports on campus have had recent success against Tulane, the same cannot be said for the LSU volleyball team.The Tigers (24-6) have dropped two of their last three matches against the Green Wave, including posting a 1-1 record against them this season.The first time the teams met this season, LSU took home an easy three-set sweep at home in the Tiger Classic, but a mere week later, the Tigers dropped a four-set match on the road in Tulane’s Fogelman Arena.”The first time we played them, they didn’t show up, and we just dominated them at home,” Dabbs said. “The second time, there was a lot of hype. They had a lot of fans at their place, it was their celebration of their conference title, so they had a lot to play for that night, and we didn’t show up.”LSU senior middle blocker Brittnee Cooper agreed with Dabbs, noting the 1,648 fans on hand for their match on the road against Tulane provided the Green Wave with a lot of momentum.Cooper feels the Tigers have the upper hand this time with home-court advantage.”There’s nothing like playing on your home court,” Cooper said. “You feed off the crowd, and you get that energy to get pumped and ready to go.”While home-court advantage will be big for the Tigers, there could always be downsides to playing at home in the postseason.The most notable of those downsides is a possible lack of focus while staying at home with the pressure of school and finals looming next week.But LSU coach Fran Flory doesn’t feel that will be a problem for this year’s team.”In the past, yes I would say that [playing at home] would be a problem,” Flory said. “But this team has been equally as good at home as they have been on the road. They are a very mature group. They get together and have as many team meals at home as they do on the road.”Flory jokingly noted the team will just be happy to be in the comfort of their own beds.”The only problem we’ve run into is that if the hotel is not exactly what we want, then those are the matches we haven’t played well,” Flory said. “Comfort level for our team is pretty big.”Should the Tigers defeat Tulane, they would have a second-round matchup with the victor of the Texas A&M (18-10) versus Arizona (19-10) matchup, which takes place before LSU’s match tonight.Flory said both of those teams will present problems for LSU.”A&M has really rallied lately because they had a middle that was out for a while and with her they are a completely different team,” Flory said. “Arizona is a physical team. They are big, fast kids that play a different style. That first match is going to be great on Friday.”FLORY, PLAYERS WIN SEC AWARDSEarlier in the week, Flory was announced as the Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year, her first such honor.Flory guided the Tigers to an 18-2 conference record this year — an improvement from their 13-7 mark last year — and an outright SEC championship for the first time since 1991.In addition, Cooper was named SEC Player of the Year, the first Tiger to win the award in program history.The Houston native paced the league with a .390 hitting percentage and 1.32 blocks per set while ranking No. 7 in kills per set with 3.44.Dabbs and senior outside hitter Marina Skender also picked up first-team All-SEC accolades.—–Contact Andy Schwehm at [email protected]