Their stats may be hidden in the box score, but their importance to the team is front and center.The LSU volleyball team will rely on the stout defense of their liberos to make a run at a second consecutive Southeastern Conference title.The stalwart of the crew is junior Lauren Waclawczyk.Waclawczyk ranked 10th in the SEC in 2009 with 425 digs — an average of 3.76 per set.LSU coach Fran Flory said the biggest challenge Waclawczyk faces is to keep her confidence level high despite the lack of recognition the libero receives for good play.”Libero position is a very difficult position because there are no stats,” Flory said. “You only get information that tells you that you played poorly. You didn’t pass well or you didn’t dig enough balls.”But nipping quick on Waclawczyk’s heels are sophomores Sam Delahoussaye and Meghan Mannari as well as the freshman pair of Victoria Jacobsen and Brittany Steele.Delahoussaye managed to enter all 32 of the Tigers’ matches in 2009. She tied for third on the team with 11 double-digit dig performances and was fifth on the squad with a digs per set average of 2.23. Flory has been happy with the work Delahoussaye has shown as camp has progressed.”Sam Delahoussaye didn’t start as strong in preseason but has really come on,” Flory said. “In the purple-and-gold scrimmage she had an outstanding match and really moved up the totem pole.”Mannari played 22 sets in 18 matches last season, 13 of which came in SEC play. Steele, especially, has caught the eye of Waclawczyk.”She’s making me work and making me go harder and she’s making me fight for more balls,” Waclawczyk said.Though the Tigers return their leading defender from last season, the same cannot be said at the setter position.The Tigers must replace senior setter Sam Dabbs, a 2009 First Team All-SEC performer who also garnered honorable mention All-America honors.The Tigers will lean on the leadership of senior Brittney Johnson to steer the setters in the right direction.Flory said she has faith in Johnson as long as she plays within herself.”Johnson needs to just be an athlete and not over-think,” Flory said. “She’s one of the best athletes on the court, and sometimes she tries too hard to be a little too good technically, and when she thinks it’s paralysis by analysis.”Johnson recorded 46 kills and 151 assists in 2009. Freshman Shelby Pursley is the incoming setter for the Tigers. She dished out 1,028 assists and finished her high school career in Winter Springs, Fla., ranked No. 27 nationally by PrepVolleyball.com.Johnson has been impressed with Pursley’s work and all the other incoming freshmen.”They’re filling in the role of what we were missing,” Johnson said. “They’re doing a good job of playing hard, being focused and being tough.”Waclawczyk hopes the team comes together for the season.”I just hope as a unit that we can be the best we have,” Waclawczyk said. “With the strengths we have, if we use the full capability of every person on our team and our coaching staff, with everything we have going for us, if we can do that our wins will come.”—————Contact Rob Landry at [email protected]