The LSU volleyball team begins its 2003 season this Friday by hosting the Tiger Classic in the PMAC. Virginia, Centenary, University of Alabama-Birmingham and LSU will participate in the tournament. LSU’s first game will be against Centenary at 12:30 p.m.
The Tigers begin the season with several injured players on the roster. Setters Beth Cowley and Daniela Romero are both overcoming injuries. However, LSU volleyball coach Fran Flory said both setters will play this weekend.
LSU’s four juniors, Beth Cowley, Blaise DeRouen, Regan Hood and Rachel Pittman, will lead the Tigers in the season opener.
“It’s a challenge to step up and lead,” Cowley said. “All four of us have accepted the challenge.”
Flory said the injuries have caused an uncertainty of the lineup and forced the young team to deal with circumstances. She said the goal, as always, is to win the tournament despite the obstacles.
“We have very specific individual team goals as far as efficiency,” Flory said. “We know we’re going to play hard.”
All three teams LSU will face finished with losing records last season. Yet, several stand-out players will try to lead their teams to victory.
LSU plays Virginia Friday at 7 p.m. The Cavaliers finished last season with a 9-25 record. Yet, Whitney Ashcroft was named first team All-ACC for the Cavaliers and led the conference with 499 digs.
Two Louisiana natives, Celeste Laborde from the Academy of the Sacred Heart in New Orleans and Meghan O’Leary from Episcopal in Baton Rouge, will return home to play for Virginia.
LSU battles UAB at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Senior Martina Shields will lead the Blazers who finished with a 13-20 record in 2002. Shields was named to the preseason All-Conference USA team. Last season she led the team in kills with 457, digs with 316 and double-doubles with 14.
Centenary only has one returning senior and finished 13-30 in 2002.
“The first match is always the measuring stick,” said Flory. “I expect our team will be excited and prepared.”