Beth Cowley spent her first two years on the LSU volleyball team mainly watching from the sidelines. Now, Cowley has earned the starting setter position, but there is just one problem. She had surgery in June to repair a torn triangular fibrocartilage complex.
Despite having had little practice time and the surgery, Cowley is slated as the starter for this weekend’s season opener. She will replace last year’s senior setter Katie Kubena .
Cowley said it has been frustrating not getting to practice, but the chance for her to enter the starting lineup has kept her motivated.
“We have an awesome team and I know I’m a big part of it,” Cowley said. “I want to be a leader.”
LSU volleyball coach Fran Flory said it is that kind of aggressive attitude that enabled Cowley to get ahead of her rehabilitation schedule.
“Beth is a feisty competitor,” Flory said. “She truly wants to win. She’s not out there to have a good time. Beth has competitive fight. She’s the team leader in that area.”
Flory said Cowly often pushes her teammates to be more aggressive.
Teammate Regan Hood said sometimes it’s hard to match Cowley’s intensity, but she knows that is what it takes to win.
“She’s real competitive in every drill she does,” Hood said.
It is that competitive spirit and her love for the South that brought the Louisville, Ky. native to LSU. Cowley said she felt the LSU volleyball program was on its way to being great. Yet, the 5-foot-9 junior felt frustrated with last year’s team, which finished second in the SEC West and did not qualify for the NCAA tournament. Flory called last year’s team “underachieving” despite a 17-11 record.
“Anyone could see our team was better than it played,” Cowley said. “I didn’t see that much playing time. It’s tough (watching from the sidelines). You feel helpless.”
Cowley played in 31 games last season in 18 matches. Her career best performance came against Ole Miss where she recorded 3 kills, 10 digs and 36 assists.
Cowley said last spring she improved greatly and now has to get her timing back after being out of practice for so long. However, she is confident she will be able to do her job in this weekend’s Tiger Classic. Hood is confident in Cowley’s abilities as well.
“She’s prepared for this weekend,” Hood said.