Claire Coppola and Kristen Nuss were outstanding for LSU Tigers beach volleyball as freshmen.
As sophomores, the pair has taken its game to the next level.
“Last year, we were just going into the season not knowing what to expect,” Nuss said. “We were just wanting to go play. This year we expect to go out and get wins.”
As freshmen, Coppola and Nuss became LSU’s top pairing, garnering a record of 27-7 and earning All-American status by volleyballmag.com.
The pairing was named to the preseason All-CCSA (Coastal Collegiate Sports Association) team and started the season 8-0 with a win over No. 1 Pepperdine, before falling to 8-4.
“I think we have a lot of expectations for ourselves,” Coppola said. “We want to be able to be a win that our team can rely on. That is one of our goals, to always be a win we can carry for our team.”
The big difference from this season to last season, according to Nuss, is their experience working together
As sophomores they believe they can beat anyone.
“I definitely think having a season under our belt has helped tremendously,” Nuss said. “The fact that we had a season together and have another season together, shows we know how to play really well. We know how to make each other better.”
“I, also, feel like we have a target on our back,” Coppola chimed in. “People know what we are capable of and want to beat us, but we are ready for them.”
Coppola and Nuss worked individually on their game over the summer, but have been able to work seamlessly on the court together this year.
Coppola, who is from Arizona, spent much of her summer on the beach in California practicing for this season.
“I just went to California and played a lot there − just to get used to deep sand,” she said. “I played in women’s tournament to play against older, more experienced people, which helped me learn a lot about myself and my game.”
While Nuss was not able to compete against the same level of competition, she also made an extra effort to improve over the summer focusing mainly on her cardio and endurance.
When Nuss dedicates time to improving, she tends to find success.
She won five LHSAA state championships in basketball, indoor volleyball and soccer at Mount Carmel Academy in New Orleans.
While she had made a name for herself in Louisiana high school sports, Nuss was not well-known in beach volleyball until last season.
“It is really fun to have her here,” said LSU coach Russell Brock. “When you look at her stature, she is not a player you immediately think she is really good. It is not until you watch her play that you realize she is special. We have this player from Louisiana that nobody knows. By the time we are halfway through a game, coaches try to figure out how they did not know who she was.”
Coppola was more well-known in the beach volleyball world, having won two state championships.
Her star status in Arizona was on full display to her team when LSU opened the season at the Grand Canyon University Beach Tournament in Phoenix.
Coppola’s family and friends gave LSU a home field advantage in her home state.
“It was so fun to have my whole family there and some friends,” Coppola said. “Just to play in front of them is incredible. Kristen gets to play here in front of them all the time here. Just to go home and get to play in front of them was awesome. LSU fans travel very well.”
Nuss is used to that home field advantage at LSU, as a New Orleans native. Being from Louisiana, playing for LSU was always her goal.
“I cannot imagine going anywhere else,” Nuss said. “I have always dreamed of wearing LSU across the chest, so this is like a dream come true. I see my parents all the time, they are always coming up. If I was any further away, I do not know what I would do. It is so nice to play here in front of the fans.”
While Coppola and Nuss come from different backgrounds, they have been able to create a genuine partnership on and off the court.
They were roommates in their freshman year and live across the street from each other this year.
“We travel together. Our whole team is close. I would say they are my 20 best friends,” Coppola said.
On the court, Coppola and Nuss both share the same competitive mentality.
“We love to compete,” Nuss said. “We hate losing more than we love winning. When we play, we kind of live by that because we really don’t like to lose.”
LSU sophomore Claire Coppola (14) and sophomore Kristen Nuss (13) practice on Thursday, March 8, 2018, at Mango's Beach Volleyball Club.
