BATON ROUGE — The LSU volleyball travels to New Orleans on Friday to face Tulane at 7 p.m. in the first of three matches for the Tigers this weekend in the Sugar Bowl Volleyball Tournament.
On Saturday, LSU will play New Orleans at 10 a.m. and No. 15 Wisconsin at 6 p.m.
“For us to have a shot to get in the NCAA Tournament, we have to go into this weekend expecting to win,” said LSU coach Fran Flory. “Are we capable of that, I don’t know. We will prove that this weekend.”
Under Flory, LSU is 8-0 against Tulane and New Orleans in the past two years. Last season, the Tigers dropped only one game en route to its four victories over the Green Wave and Privateers. LSU has never faced Wisconsin.
“We know that Tulane and UNO matches are always tough matches. They are always very emotionally packed matches. We are anxious to get in that environment and see how we fare,” said Flory. “Wisconsin gives us a chance to play a team in the Big 10, a traditionally tough conference, as well as a top 25 team.”
LSU will be led into the match by middle blocker Meagan Davis who has led the team in kills in each of the past two matches. In teh Tigers win over Southern Miss on Tuesday, Davis led the way with 11 kills and 11 digs to record her first double-double of the season as well as five blocks. She is among the top six in the Southeastern Conference both kills/game and attack percentage.
Running the Tiger offense, which ranks fourth in the SEC in attack percentage will be New Orleans native Lauren O’Connor. The senior setter ranks second in the conference in assists/game.
The Tigers are fresh off a 15-2, 15-6, 15-11 victory at Southern Miss on Tuesday, the second straight win for LSU.