Senior athletes are often tasked with teaching underclassmen. However, that job can be difficult when only two seniors lead a class of six freshmen and five sophomores on a 16-player volleyball team.
LSU senior volleyball players Lauren Waclawczyk and Michele Williams find themselves in that situation this year.
“Our senior class this year has done a better job than maybe any other senior class I’ve had throughout preseason welcoming the younger kids in and making sure that this team formed into a great team,” said LSU coach Fran Flory.
Williams, a preseason All-Southeastern Conference selection, has received significant playing time in each season of her LSU career. Last season, she saw action in all 107 sets of LSU’s 30 matches and was second on the team with 334 kills.
“She’s going to be a stabilizing force,” said Flory. “She’s one of the top middles and top players in this league. She has been every year, and I expect her to be goals.”
While the pressure of being one of two senior leaders on a team filled with underclassmen may overwhelm some athletes, Waclawczyk said the pressure doesn’t affect her.
“I like knowing that girls can look up to me and I’m doing the right things,” Waclawczyk said. “I know I was in their shoes one day, and I had great seniors to look up to, so now it’s my turn to fill that