Sam Dabbs needed a change.After spending two seasons at Louisville, the junior transfer setter said one of the reasons she came to LSU was for a change of pace — literally and figuratively.Not only did Dabbs travel more than 760 miles to get to Baton Rouge from Louisville, she is now playing in a much more fast-paced offense.LSU’s offense relies on timing and tempo, with high importance placed on the setter. Louisville’s offense relies more on outside hitters.”[Louisville] ran not as fast-paced, more of an outside oriented offense that they set to their outside hitters or their right side hitters to the pins,” said LSU coach Fran Flory. “Being able to deliver a fast, accurate ball in the right tempo in the right location — it’s a big transition.”Dabbs, who is competing with sophomore Brittney Johnson for the starting setter position, said the offensive transition wasn’t too difficult.”I’ve done it before,” Dabbs said. “It was a big change, and I like the change. I’m really happy with the change, and that’s why I’m here.”Johnson played in 25 matches at setter in 2007, but Dabbs has started four of the Tigers’ five matches this season.Flory said Dabbs starting the season opener doesn’t solidify her as the starting setter for the year.”We need both of them to reach our goals,” Flory said.Senior libero Elena Martinez said Dabbs and Johnson compete for the starting job “on a daily basis.””You never know on any given day who’s going to be the starting setter,” Martinez said. “That’s something that’s really great about our team, that we have two setters that are competing to be the best. We don’t favor either one of them.”Dabbs said she and Johnson are “attached to the hip” during every practice.”We go the same amount of reps. We go the same amount of time on the court,” Dabbs said. “We work really well together.”Johnson said Dabbs pushed her ever since she joined the team.”I’ve learned so much just from watching her,” Johnson said. “Not even doing the same thing, just watching has helped me tremendously.”Dabbs said she and Johnson each bring a different aspect to the team.”[Johnson] has a lot of athleticism and can jump high and do a lot of things that I don’t have,” she said. “I have certain things that I do that she’s learning from me, and I’m learning from her things that she can do.”Flory said Dabbs is an experienced setter that “knows what it takes to be successful collegiately.””She’s a winner,” Flory said. “The experience that she brings is a welcomed addition in the gym.”Dabbs said she didn’t expect to come in and win the starting job by the season opener.”I was not promised anything,” she said. “[Coach Flory] just said work hard every day … The position’s open any time. It’s just whoever is having a better day that day and just whatever works for the team.”Dabbs said Flory let her understand the team’s goals right from the start.”The very first day we came in from meetings she just said ‘I’m tired of being the West champs,'” Dabbs said. “She wants the entire SEC championship to be ours, and that’s our No. 1 goal.”—-Contact Robert Stewart at [email protected]