Motivational shouting, clapping hands and athletes giving 100 percent shape the intense atmosphere that lies in the LSU volleyball practice facility this preseason.
The LSU volleyball team expects to have an improved season with junior middle blocker Khourtni Fears coming back from injury and a leadership that has never been better, said coach Fran Flory.
“We’ve made it to the same spot the past two years, and we’re so motivated to get past that,” said senior outside hitter Katie Lindelow. “This team can definitely do it.”
LSU reached the NCAA tournament two-straight-seasons, but lost in the second round both times.
The team is healthy and has improved chemistry, but after last year’s starting setter Malorie Pardo’s graduation, finding a serviceable replacement remains a challenge. Sophomore Elly Ogle is the most experienced out of the three setters on the team and played in 17 sets last season.
“Elly (Ogle) has been doing really well,” Lindelow said. “She has been in the gym working hard. We have a lot of people wind for that spot. It’s kind of up in the air right now, but whatever happens, we have gotten reps with all of them. We all know how they play. It will work seamlessly no matter who’s on the court.”
The core of the team is back, but the player running the offense is not. Flory expects assistant coach Ethan Pheister to help on that front.
“We’ll control things and take a lot of the thought process away from her, so she doesn’t have to worry about that,” Flory said. “She just needs to worry about executing the play.
The team will travel to Austin, Texas this weekend for its season opener series, facing UC Irvine, Rice and Texas.
“Those are all three key matches,” coach Flory said. “UC Irvine is a very good team. They have a new coach, so we don’t really know what to expect from them. Rice had a great spring and has very talented players. They beat Texas in the spring, and of course, Texas is Texas. They are big, physical and expect to be in the national championship conversation.”
Rice is expected to be in the same position as LSU, lacking at the setter position, but received sophomore setter Madison McDaniel from Arizona State.
“We’re really excited about this weekend,” Lindelow said. “We’ve been working hard. I think we’ll be ready.”
This will be the first time LSU’s six freshmen put on the Tiger uniform and represent the university. The amount of playing time they will face remains unclear. Flory wants the freshmen to have a calm start to their collegiate careers and not have struggles adapting.
“We have to compete and trust our system and trust what we do,” Flory said. “The process should take care of itself. The result should follow.”