The LSU volleyball team continues to prepare as the new season quickly approaches.
LSU returns 13 players from last year’s team, and are adding three new freshmen.
Heading into the season with a veteran squad, coach Fran Flory’s confidence level continues to soar after every day of preparation. Flory’s team is looking to improve on consecutive 9-20 seasons.
“We are very confident this will be a much better season than we had last year,” said Flory, the all-time winningest coach in program history. “Our system has improved and the new kids coming have done a good job meshing with the returners. I think the returners have done a good job of adding to the culture and increasing the level expectations.”
On Saturday, the Tigers held their annual Purple & Gold Scrimmage at the Pete Maravich Center. The Gold team won the first two sets – 25-15, 26-24 – against the Purple team, who won the third set – 25-17.
After the scrimmage, Flory expressed her thoughts about the leadership her more experienced players have exhibited, but one player in particular has stood out to the head coach.
“I honestly think Kelly Quinn has done a really good job stabilizing leadership and really holding people to a standard. I think [junior middle blocker] Olivia (Beyer) has done a great job and I think Toni Rodriguez has a done a really good job as well.”
Having solid players to be the example on and off the court for incoming freshmen has been emphasized by Flory. Upperclassmen such as Beyer and junior defensive specialist Katie Kampen had superb outings for the Tigers.
Beyer led the way with 18 kills total for a .424 hitting percentage. Beyer also racked up four blocks for the Gold team and accounted for 40 percent of her team’s kills. Kampen recorded 12 digs and nine kills on the day, falling one kill shy of a double.
Despite noteworthy performances, Flory heavily indicated that her team has not reached its ceiling and needs to improve.
“We are not quite ready,” said Flory after the scrimmage. “That’s the overall thought from this match. I’m happy that we have another week. We will be ready. Just a couple of little tweaks will make a big difference for us.”
The LSU volleyball team will begin its season against Arkansas-Pine Bluff at the USF Invitational in Tampa, Florida on August 25 at 3 p.m.
