It’s not exactly March Madness, but the 2010 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament is sure to stir up some December drama.
No. 15 LSU (25-4) earned the No. 13 overall seed in the tournament and faces a challenging first-round bout Friday night against a No. 23-ranked Tulsa team (30-2) that boasts the nation’s longest winning streak of 29 matches, dating back to Sept. 3.
“Tulsa is a very good team,” said LSU coach Fran Flory. “You are certainly a great team if you haven’t lost since September and you’re in December.”
The Tigers were placed in the Norman, Okla., region, considered one of the toughest in the nation.
LSU will face a Golden Hurricane squad that features a whirlwind of talent with both the nation’s kills and assists leader.
Sophomore outside hitter Tyler Henderson has reeled in 6.23 kills per set, with most passes coming from sophomore setter Jordan Clampitt, who has dished out 13.18 assists per set.
“We know [Henderson] is a great athlete, and we know their whole team is prepared,” said freshman middle blocker Desiree Elliot. “They’re really fast and they’re really quick, and they have a great defensive team. All aspects of their game are talented.”
With a load of talent surrounding the Golden Hurricane roster, Tulsa coach Ed Allen said his team is playing just about its best ball of the season.
“We haven’t lost in 29 matches, so I think we’re playing pretty well,” Allen said in a news release. “I can’t imagine that we could be playing any better than what we are right now.”
Allen also said his team was looking forward to its second NCAA tournament appearance in four years.
“We’re real thrilled to be back in the tournament, and we’re excited about the opportunity to play an SEC team,” Allen said. “They’ve had an outstanding year, and we expect it to be a good match.”
All eyes will most likely be on the 2009 All-American Honorable Mention in Henderson, but Flory warned her team not to overlook the rest of the talented Tulsa team.
“They’re not just one-dimensional,” Flory said. “They have some other kids on the court and really just come after you and play hard. They’re feisty, they have nice ball control skills and they’re very well-coached, and very disciplined in their system.”
But Flory said the team’s focus is not on the competition, but rather on themselves.
“We’ve been really focused. I’m really happy with our week. I’m happy with our mental approach,” Flory said. “We have to be a team that’s on a mission and decide that we truly belong and we deserve to be here. I think attitude-wise this group has been really focused.”
The Tigers have not advanced past the second round of the tournament since their 1991 Final Four run, including a tough early exit last season in a five-set clash with Texas A&M.
Senior outside hitter Angela Bensend, who has been a part of LSU’s NCAA tournament appearances the past four years, said this year’s team may have what it takes to get over that second-round hump.
“We all believe more in ourselves and each other this year than in the past,” Bensend said. “Instead of us trying to play the best game of our lives each and every game, we’re just going to play like we normally do because we know that wins. As long as we keep our pace and our play, I have full confidence that we’ll go farther this year.”
First serve is slated for 6 p.m. If the Tigers win their first round match, they will face either host Oklahoma (21-10) or Wichita State (21-7) on Saturday.
The winner of that match will advance to the Sweet 16, held in University Park, Pa., and likely face No. 4 Penn State.
 
 
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Contact Mark Clements at [email protected]