The LSU volleyball team looks to even out its record at the Bobcat Invitational in Athens, Ohio, this weekend after its rough start of the season last week.
LSU (0-3) faces Ohio (3-1), Xavier (2-1) and Michigan (3-0) in a three-game tournament. Although the team is lacking at the setter and middle blocker position, it’s not lacking in confidence.
“We have to go 3-0,” said junior middle blocker Tiara Gibson. “We need to be .500 after this weekend, and that’s entirely within our capabilities.”
The team agreed that uncertainness was a major factor for the three losses in Texas last weekend. When junior middle blocker Khourtni Fears suffered a season-ending injury three days before the first game, it made it difficult for both players and coaches to adapt.
“I think it was difficult mentally for our players, having to step on the court Friday night without Khourtni and without having had much practice with the lineup that we anticipated,” volleyball coach Fran Flory said. “We had one day to put the lineup together and have a flow. We could not expect too much from that in this sport.”
The weekend’s first opponent is the University of Ohio. Coming off a big win against No. 10 Kentucky, the Bobcats are expected to be the tournament’s toughest matchup.
“Our offense has to smooth out,” Flory said. “We have to find a way to set our middles more and be a little more balanced offensively. We have a plan put together, which we will implement at practice and get started in that direction. Our setting consistency has to be better, too, so we can create more opportunities on offense in general.”
Filling the setting position was a challenge, even before the season started, but the young setters do a good job compensating, Flory said. She added that sophomore Cheyenne Wood and freshman Lindsay Flory played beyond their years in the first tournament. Wood averaged 4.58 assists, while Lindsay averaged 5 assists after playing in five of 12 sets.
“I thought that Cheyenne played like a veteran and did a very good job,” Fran said. “Lindsay Flory was the surprise of the weekend. She had great poise and stepped on to a pretty big stage. There were a lot of eyes on her in Texas, and it didn’t seem to bother her. That says a lot for a freshman stepping in that situation.”
There has only been room for optimism after Fears’ injury last Tuesday. Fran said she is pleased with the way the team evolved throughout the tournament, and a week of practicing the new system has increased team chemistry and confidence.
“We were unsure of what we were getting,” Gibson said. “Now we know what we are working with, and we know what we have to work on to make this weekend better. I think that we all feel really good, and it’s safe to say we’re going to be really tough this weekend.”