After an exciting start to the LSU volleyball season, lots of lessons have been learned and many opportunities are left for the team to prove itself. 

The question on everyone’s mind is: What is the temperature of this team? 

The 8-3 Bayou Bengals will take on the 8-3 Missouri Tigers and the 5-3 Texas Longhorns in the PMAC on Friday and Sunday, respectively, led by former player, assistant coach and now head coach Tonya Johnson.

Johnson is not only a former player, but a former player that wore the very same purple and gold she wears today.

Johnson graduated from LSU after leading the Tigers to two SEC title games and the program’s first Final Four appearance in 1990. 

In her third year as a head coach at LSU, Johnson is 27-31 after taking over in 2021 and has added eight more wins to that total after a strong start to the season in non-conference play.  

Much of the talk surrounding the team this year has been about how young it is and how much of a factor that’ll be on the court. 

So far, the Tigers have been able to manage much of their inexperience. But non-conference play is over, and it’s time for the big leagues.  

The good news for the Tigers is that the formula for success is simple: When you play well, sustain it.  

“That’s been the talk this entire week,” Johnson said 

So, what is the temperature of this Tiger team?  

The truthful answer is they are still heating up. But that is in no way a bad temperature to be at right now.  

The Tigers have emerged from several tight contests. There is a world in which LSU is 3-8 right now instead of 8-3. 

When you look at the season to date, the Tigers have three losses in which their inexperience became evident. 

It is a lot like riding a bike, though; you’re going to fall a lot when you first start riding, but within a short amount of time, you’re cruising down the sidewalk — maybe bleeding at the knees, but with the ‘know-how’ you need to ride.  

The Tigers’ first loss came to Troy over a nail-biting five sets. Johnson has repeatedly emphasized that this team is not going to quit, no matter how long the odds may seem, and it didn’t during that match. 

The Tigers’ second loss came to a ranked Baylor team in a match where some untimely calls played a large role in a failed comeback attempt by the Tigers, leading to a 1-3 loss.  

The third loss of the season befell the Tigers when they were swept by San Diego.  

San Diego is a team that’s chock-full of experienced upperclassmen, something that cannot be said about the Tigers, who consistently play seven or more underclassmen in a match.  

Johnson addressed the fact that while this team is young, it’s made big strides in its non-conference play and it’s too early in the season to be looking into the crystal ball for answers. 

“I still think we have a ton of room for growth. That’s the part that excites me. I mean, if we can get even just get 1% better every day, that’s improvement to me as a coach,” Johnson said.

In the sweep, the Toreros controlled the match and frequently got LSU out of system, according to Johnson.

That control was taken away by San Diego’s strong offense and two huge middle blockers, but what sealed the game for the Torero’s were the Tigers self-inflicted wounds.

“In sets two and three, I thought we fought, and I thought that we were right in there until we made some mistakes at the [very] end,” Johnson said.

Even though one of LSU’s greatest strengths is its energy, when the momentum gets flipped on it, the team can easily crash and burn. 

This team has had a couple close calls, but the strong internal leadership from sophomore Jurnee Robinson has made a special impact on the team for both younger and older players alike. 

Robinson, a force to be reckoned with on the court, also provides a secondary role to this team: passion. 

“Jurnee is very passionate about the game, and I think that it’s contagious. I think the team feels that, and they thrive on that,” Johnson said.

The key points for LSU to open SEC play 2-0 are the same they’ve been since week one: start fast, serve and pass and take it one touch at a time.

As LSU volleyball continues to heat up, it has a big stage this weekend to put all its efforts on display. 

The Tigers play Friday at 7 p.m. in the PMAC against Mizzou and at 2 p.m. on Sunday against the Longhorns.