Speed kills — this is a phrase LSU volleyball’s Desiree Elliott knows a lot about.
To go along with the numerous teammates complimenting her quickness, Elliott has powered home 90 kills in 13 games this season.
Senior setter Brittney Johnson said Elliott’s speed and athleticism are her strong points. LSU coach Fran Flory agreed, saying Elliott’s speed is exactly what caught her eye.
“We recruited her mostly because she fit right into our system because she’s so fast,” Flory said. “She surprises teams with her speed. They don’t expect her to be where she is, and all of a sudden she’s past them.”
Elliott has played in all 13 matches and is one of only four girls to see action in all 46 sets this season. Her kill count is the fourth highest on the team, and her 41 blocks are good enough for second.
The modest middle blocker said she does it for her team.
“I just want to make sure that I play well for my team because I know they always have my back,” Elliott said. “So whatever I do, I want to make sure it’s for them, for Coach and for LSU.”
The Cypress, Texas, native garnered multiple All-District and All-State accolades at Cypress Wood High School. She has continued her successes in Baton Rouge and was named SEC Freshman Player of the Week for two consecutive weeks.
Flory said the thing that stuck out most about her new middle blocker was her will to win.
“The first thing [we noticed] is how competitive she was,” Flory said. “She fights through every play, and she wants to win every contact and every touch.”
Elliott said the biggest thing that drew her to LSU was the family atmosphere Flory brings to the program.
“Everyone on the team loves each other,” Elliott said. “There’s such a good work ethic and such good attitude on the team. It makes coming here and working hard that much easier.”
Elliott has come in and earned her role as starting middle blocker in her first year and has been extremely successful. But Flory said that hasn’t always been the plan.
Flory said the exit of former Tiger middle blocker Ally Judkins opened the door for Elliott to jump in and make an early impact.
“We felt like the competition was going to be tough,” Flory said. “When Ally Judkins ended up having to leave school last semester, that pushed Desiree into a starting role earlier than we anticipated. But I don’t know that [Elliott] wouldn’t have come in and beat Ally out anyway. The competition at that spot would have been very, very, very heated.”
Regardless of how she got here, Elliott’s performance this season has secured her a role on the team for some time. Johnson, who had the opportunity to play with former Tiger All-American middle blocker Brittnee Cooper, said Elliott is filling the void well.
“It’s always good to have someone good in the middle,” Johnson said. “I’m used to having Cooper, so having someone be able to step in is great. She’s doing really well.”
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Contact Mark Clements at [email protected]