Following two consecutive tournaments on the road, the No. 21 LSU volleyball team will finally play its first home matches this weekend in the Tiger Classic.
The Tigers (6-0) enter Friday’s match against North Carolina (4-3) hoping to extend their six-game winning streak — their longest such streak to open a season since 2007.
LSU will also face Rice and New Mexico State in the Classic.
The feeling of being undefeated after two weekends is enjoyable, but LSU coach Fran Flory said she was not necessarily expecting those results.
“We’re pretty excited to be 6-0,” Flory said. “You certainly don’t schedule to lose, but I think we knew we’d be in a couple dog fights on their home court [playing at Texas A&M and TCU] … and that was a great grow-up moment.”
But the Tigers can’t continue to win on effort alone. They must especially make strides in the pace of their game if they expect to escape the gauntlet of competition slated for this weekend.
Flory expects this weekend to be her team’s most challenging so far this season with all three matches against teams that are perennial NCAA tournament teams.
North Carolina finished last season with a 15-16 record but boasts a lineup that consists of seven upperclassmen.
Rice, fresh off of a 23-9 showing in 2009, is primed for another run to the NCAA tournament where they were knocked out in the first round by TCU.
“This is going to be an absolute clean slate,” Flory said. “I could see, potentially, nobody go through this tournament undefeated. Certainly our expectations for our team is that we’ll be successful, but this will be a huge challenge for us.”
LSU sophomore outside hitter Madie Jones said she expects the Tigers to be victorious and defend their home turf.
“We’re expecting three wins,” Jones said. “This is our home, and this is where we play. We’re not going to let anyone take our home games away from us. We definitely are expecting to go 3-0 this weekend, and it takes a lot of focus and preparation, but I think we’re ready for it.”
 
 
 
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Contact Rob Landry at [email protected]