When outstanding high school athletes make the transition from high school to college, many of them suddenly feel like a small fish in a big pond. Freshman volleyball player Lacey Galliano said this is how she felt after leaving a small private school for LSU.
“High school was so much different because there are like 200 people in our entire high school and a very select few are athletes,” Galliano said. “I was always the tall athletic girl who did every sport and always played. Coming here everyone’s the same. They were all the big fish in their schools too.”
Galliano led The Dunham School in Baton Rouge to the district championships from 1999-2002. She also received all-state first-team honors her junior and senior years. However, not being on the court in every game is something Galliano has had to adjust to at LSU, where playing time is scarce.
“Being from a small school, I was used to playing all the time,” Galliano said. “So it kind of humbles you and increases your work ethic. I’m looking at it as I’m a freshman, I don’t know what I am supposed to do so I just need to get a year under my belt. They’re teaching me a whole new approach on some of the things, different than what I’ve done better, so I’m taking it as a learning year.”
Despite a lack of playing time, Galliano has already showed her ability to make key plays. In a close match against the University of New Orleans, she made a kill to bring the Tigers within one point of the Privateers before teammate Kassi Mikulik gave the Tigers game point.
Although Galliano does not see much court time for herself this season, she still sees a role for herself on this year’s squad as a motivator. Junior Beth Cowley said Galliano has been a source of encouragement for her this season as she battles a wrist injury.
“Lacey has had a much larger impact than even she anticipated,” Cowley said. “She’s athletic and motivated. She helps me stay motivated.”
Cowley also said Galliano manages to keep an upbeat attitude while still pushing everyone to work harder.
“While she’s pushing everyone, she helps us see the lighter side of things,” Cowley said.
Freshman Markeisha Constant said the freshman walk-on is high spirited and enthusiastic.
However, Galliano said the transition from high school to college has been tough.
“It’s been kind of rough because I’m in a new environment,” she said. “Trying to incorporate so much volleyball and so much school into not a lot of time is kind of overwhelming to me. It’s been hard for me to adjust.”
Galliano has dedicated herself to volleyball for several years now. In high school she not only played for Dunham’s volleyball team, but she played club volleyball as well.
While in high school, she traveled to New Orleans three nights a week to play with the Cajunland team. Coincidentally, fellow Tiger Lauren Leaumont played on the same team. But unlike Leaumont who is from New Orleans, Galliano had to drive an hour and a half to and from practice. However, that was a price she was willing to take to play with a high caliber team. Galliano said she would practice in New Orleans from 8:00 to 10:30 p.m. and would not get home until midnight.
“It was hard but it definitely keeps you out of trouble and makes you get stuff done,” she said.
Galliano said the traveling was worth it.
“Playing with better people makes you improve your game,” she said.
As a walk-on, Galliano said she is not treated any different from the scholarship players.
“I feel like I’m challenged as much as anyone else,” she said. “I don’t feel that I’m looked at differently. I think everyone has to start out proving themselves and I don’t think there’s any different criteria for me.”
She said the team is a family and she enjoys being with people who have the same loves and hobbies.
Galliano said her time at LSU has been challenging and exciting at the same time.
“I knew it was going to be difficult, but I had no idea how much fun it would be and how much I’d learn about life,” she said.