The struggling LSU volleyball team needs wins this weekend as it takes on Oral Roberts, University of Texas El Paso and North Texas at the Mean Green Classic at North Texas.
The 3-6 Tigers lost 3 matches last weekend at the Wildcat Classic.
“We need to get in the win column,” said LSU coach Fran Flory. “These teams we should be able to compete with. They’re young teams like us.”
Flory said playing against some of the best in the country last weekend gave her young team valuable experience, which she hopes they can use in the Mean Green Classic.
“[Lack of experience] hurt us against South Florida because they played with an experienced team,” Flory said. “We’ve gotten some people some good experience. We are more balanced. We need to win this weekend. ”
LSU defensive specialist Rachel Pittman said due to injuries, young players will have to step up play this weekend.
“We’re going to have to fight harder,” Pittman said. “We’ve been faced with injuries, but that’s not an excuse anymore. We need to fight.”
Junior setter Beth Cowley will start the tournament, but may not be able to play the whole weekend due to soreness in her wrist and index finger.
Freshman setter Daniela Romero currently is sidelined because of a lower leg injury, so Pittman may have to direct the offense at setter.
Several freshmen such as Melody Clark and Kassie Mikulik likely will see action again for the Tigers. Last weekend against Kansas, Clark had five blocks while Mikulik had 12 digs.
“We need to start fresh with a fresh new attitude,” Cowley said. “Everyone got thrown in there last weekend. We have to go out with nothing to lose.
LSU plays Oral Roberts on Friday at 5 p.m. Oral Roberts is 4-8 on the season after losing to Oklahoma last weekend. Freshman Ori Zuzic led the team against Oklahoma with 16 kills and five service aces while freshman middle blocker Kim Snow had five blocks and 13 kills. Oral Roberts’ junior libero Becky Dreher had her first 30-dig performance of the year.
LSU will then face UTEP on Saturday at 11 a.m. Senior Jennifer Abbruzzese leads UTEP (5-6) in digs as she looks to take over the school’s career digs record.
Abbruzzese currently has 1,123 digs in her collegiate career.
UTEP ranks No. 1 in the Western Conference in team digs per game with 18.26. Nationally they rank No. 11 in that category.
North Texas will square off with the Tigers at 7 p.m. on Saturday. The 6-6 Mean Green lost last weekend to Nicholls State, however, Jill Ruskowski had 10 kills and four service aces for her team. Brittney Gregory led North Texas in kills with 12.