When senior day rolls around for the LSU volleyball team this fall, the Tigers will have something to celebrate, because there are no seniors on the team.
With an abundance of youth – eight freshman make up the 14-woman roster – LSU’s season is as up in the air as a good set. Only six players return from last season and four of those are juniors.
Head coach Fran Flory is concerned about the lack of experience on the team, but is convinced the four upperclassmen – outside hitter and middle blocker Regan Hood, setter Beth Cowley, and defensive specialists Rachel Pittman and Blaise DeRouen – are capable of bringing along the younger players.
“I think the upperclassmen have done a good job of taking the young kids in and showing them how we do things here,” Flory said. “The work ethic that they have as a group of upperclassmen is really good.”
The road is tough for the Tigers with early non-conference matches against No. 7 Nebraska and No. 15 Kansas State. The Tigers’ toughest test may come in Baton Rouge on Oct. 24 when No. 2 Hawaii comes to town.
“We have a very difficult schedule and that was on purpose,” Flory said. “I think our pre-SEC schedule is going to be more difficult than the SEC schedule. We’re playing some highly ranked people and some perennial powers. We’re going to have to step up to the plate.”
In addition to the tough schedule, the injury bug took a bite out of the Tigers. Junior setter Beth Cowley is limited due to a wrist injury and that is a major concern for Flory, but not one that should hinder the Tigers.
“You can create a positive or negative environment,” Flory said. “We’re not going to create a bad environment. In everybody’s demise or injury there is somebody else’s opportunity.”
The good news for the Tigers is Cowley will be able to participate this weekend in the Tiger Classic. But Flory is not allowing the Tigers to use injuries as an excuse for poor performance – she looks at it as an opportunity for the younger players to make an immediate impact.
“I think in the long run this is going to be really valuable to us, to gain experience, to handle adversity and to do the things that great teams have to do,” Flory said. “It’s a difficult situation, but not one that can’t be overcome and not one that we should expect to keep us from winning matches.”