LSU coach Fran Flory had a surprise for the Tiger volleyball team on Aug. 29 when she and her coaching staff revealed LSU’s new volleyball court in the PMAC.
The Tigers rushed the court, sliding and falling with joy when their coaches unveiled the shiny purple floor.
Flory, who had talked about having a volleyball-specific court for years instead of putting a net on a basketball court with hoop lines, said the volleyball team deserved the new court.
“You’re always happy when your team is grateful for things we’re privileged to have,” she said. “This group doesn’t assume they deserve anything. They’re thankful, and I loved their reaction because it just showed how much passion and care they have for a program.”
Athletic Department Executive Director of Creative Services Jason Feirman said he was proud to be a part of the month-long project after long-term planning.
“It’s great to see it come to life,” he said. “For coach Flory, I know it’s been something that she’s been dreaming of for a really long time and to see it come to fruition, to see her pride and enthusiasm behind it, to see the finished product – it’s really special to be apart of that.”
The court was a challenge for the Creative Services Department because it had never produced a volleyball-only court before, Feirman said.
Finally, Athletics Director Joe Alleva, Senior Associate Athletics Director Miriam Segar and Flory presented the team with a court that had a fresh look.
The new court lies on top of the PMAC basketball floor with an LSU logo in the center.
“The core of it starts with the LSU brand,” Feirman said. “The primary logo is the LSU letters. It’s placed in the exact same placement as the basketball court because the team utilizes it as reference.”
Sophomore Toni Rodriguez said she believes the new floor will inspire the team to be even more successful.
“It makes me feel like our school is actually looking at us and wanting us to be better,” the outside hitter said. “It’s nice to say we have a home court.”
The team used the court for the first time on Sept. 2 in the Tiger Classic Tournament against the University of Connecticut, the University of Virginia and Southern Mississippi. The Tigers fell to all three opposing teams, 0-3, 2-3 and 1-3, respectively.
Flory said she believes the team “over tried” in the tournament because the players felt they had something to prove after the presentation of the new court.
“We carried a heavy weight this weekend, and we have to throw that weight off and just decide we’re going to be great athletes and be the fighting Tigers we know we can be,” she said.

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Jordan Marcell

The new court awaits the start of the 2016 sporting season on Aug. 31, 2016, in the PMAC.