Even though it is technically the offseason for the LSU volleyball team, the Tigers and coach Fran Flory and her staff have done anything but rest.
LSU hosted a spring tournament April 5 at the PMAC that consisted of six in-state competitors. Louisiana Tech, Nicholls State, the University of New Orleans, UL-Lafayette and Southeastern Louisiana joined the Tigers in the spring season tournament. The tournament was played in a round-robin fashion with each team facing each other once.
Flory was pleased with her team’s performance.
“We played well,” Flory said. “Actually, it is probably the best we played all spring. We did a nice job. We had been hampered by injuries, but we played well.”
Tiger setter Beth Cowley sustained an injury to her wrist, and Flory said the team was not able to start implementing the offense until recently when Cowley recovered.
“She was unable to set, so we could not run any offense,” Flory said. “But we worked on ball control and defense.”
The team has been rather busy off the court as well.
Vanessa Freeman, a 6-foot-2 middle blocker from Bartlett, Texas, signed a letter-of-intent April 16 to play for the Tigers next fall.
Freeman, who attends Granger High School, is the first female at her high school to receive an athletic scholarship to a NCAA Division I university.
Flory is excited about Freeman’s athleticism.
“She may walk in here next fall and be the best athlete on our team,” Flory said. “It may take her a little while to develop because she has not played any club volleyball. Look for her to start slow and develop into a good player.”
Off the court, LSU assistant coach Tonya Johnson has accepted an assistant coaching position at the University of Texas.
Johnson, who was very involved with LSU recruiting, was a four year letterman for the Tigers in the late 80s and early 90s.
Flory would like to hire a proven recruiter to replace Johnson.