The volleyball team hosts Mississippi State and Ole Miss thisweekend for two important Southeastern Conference matches.
Coach Fran Flory emphasized how important these matches are forthe team.
“Matches in our division on our home court arevital,” Flory said. “That’s what makes thedifference in who wins the West and who wins the East.”
LSU has lost two consecutive matches falling to Florida lastweekend and Rice during the week. Sophomore outside hitter, LaurenLeaumont, said the losses are behind them even though the teamstill uses them for important lessons.
“Those two games are over and its time to move on,”Leaumont said. “We’re ready, we’ve talked aboutit and it’s just time to move on. We learned what it takes towin and now know what we have to work on in practice. We have to bemore physical and more disciplined.”
The Tigers are focused on being the best. After three defeatsthe team agrees they do not want to experience defeat again.
“We know what it feels like to win and be defeated and Idon’t think we want to feel [a loss] like that again,”Leaumont said. “We’re much better than how we playedthe past two games and we need to do the little things right thatwe took advantage of.”
The team has practiced throughout the week working out theweaknesses they seemed to possess in the last few matches.
“We have been practicing harder, it’s the only thingwe can do,” Ivana Kuzmic junior middle blocker said.”We found our weaknesses in defeats and now we can work onthat and get ready for next time.”
Mississippi State and Ole Miss are important matches not only inthe SEC, but also because they are competing against the Tigers forthe Western Division title.
“Ole Miss and Mississippi State are much improved teamsfrom previous years,” Flory said. “They’verecruited nice athletes — good volleyball players, and top tobottom the SEC is better. The West has probably taken the biggeststep up this year.”
LSU is concerned with their opponents, but Flory said the mainfocus is on the team and what they can do.
“We have to approach it one match at a time,” Florysaid. “We have to control our side of the net and I think wedid a good job of that last Friday and did a poor job of it thenext two games. We’re going to have to play good defense.We’re going to get some good opportunities. We just have togrovel and get in there and fight.”
The Tigers are focusing on their aggressiveness in each game andcreating an identity for itself.
“We don’t quite have [an identity yet,” Florysaid. “We see little boilers of what it’s going to bebut we haven’t developed a consistent personality, and thatis our goal for the next few weeks. We have to figure out who wetruly are, what kind of product we’re going to put on thecourt.”
Regardless of who the team has yet to become, Flory has onedemand on the court.
“Our emphasis has been ‘just go do yourjob,'” Flory said. “We have to be efficient.Physically, we feel like we can match up with a lot of people. So,if we do those things we’ll be more successful thisyear.”
The Tigers look to end their losing streak Friday night at 7p.m. when they face Mississippi State. LSU will end weekend playagainst Ole Miss on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.