The temperature is rising as the end of the school year rounds the corner and with that the LSU beach volleyball postseason begins, starting with the CCSA championship.
For the first time in program history, No. 3 LSU will be hosting the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association conference championship, competing against No. 2 Florida State. If LSU pushes its way past the Seminoles this Friday, it will face either No. 1 Texas or No. 4 South Carolina.
No matter which way the competition goes, the spot to be this weekend is in the stands for this conference matchup and here’s why.
LSU is built for this kind of competition
Located just north of the PMAC and gymnastics center is LSU’s beach volleyball stadium.
With a looming “Welcome to Death Volley” sign hanging over the six 24-inch deep sand courts, the venue holds seating for 450 guests between the steep metal stands and the grass, placing fans as close to the action as possible.
Remodeled in 2019 with a new locker and team room, LSU is more than prepared to welcome the competition to its courts this weekend.
“When we designed the stadium, we had the thought of hosting regional and national events,” LSU head coach Russell Brock said. “We always planned to host big championships like this. It’s exciting to finally get that opportunity and we know that it will be a fantastic venue for a great tournament.”
Given that this will be the first time LSU is hosting the conference championship, the energy is expected to thrive off the backs of Tiger fans in its state-of-the-art stadium.
A matchup to remember
Starting on Friday, LSU will be taking on the Florida Seminoles and it is looking to redeem itself after the regular season.
Having already competed against Florida twice this year and falling 2-3 both times, the Tigers are looking to prove themselves by besting the No. 2 seeded team.
LSU and FSU are entering the competition with matching 23-10 records, with the Tigers storming in with a five-game winning streak and the Seminoles with a four-game losing streak.
“We had a great opportunity for these teams to all play just a few weeks ago and the competition was fierce,” Brock said. “All four teams are really athletic and talented. This season across the country has been unpredictable and really competitive.”
LSU finished the regular season ranked at No. 11 and the Seminoles at No. 8 and now that the two will face off once more, the standards are even higher, both on the sand and on the screen as the competition will be streaming for free on Volleyball World’s VBTV this weekend.
“I expect this tournament to have some incredibly exciting matchups as well,” Brock said. “Having VBTV here again is incredible. Their presence always is always a unique and special addition.”
Yes, you can catch this show online thanks to VBTV, but there’s nothing like the real thing, so whether you’re cheering on the Tigers or the Seminoles, try to make your way to LSU’s beach volleyball stadium this Friday at 11 a.m. to witness the action first-hand.
