STATESBORO, Ga. — The LSU volleyball team opens the 2005 season on Friday against Georgia Southern at 1 p.m. (CT) and Jacksonville at 5 p.m. (CT) at Hanner Fieldhouse in the Georgia Southern Invitational.
Along with the Eagles and Dolphins, the Tigers will take on Campbell, as LSU concludes tournament play on Saturday at 1 p.m. (CT).
Georgia Southern has recorded four consecutive 20-win seasons and finished second in the Southern Conference, while Jacksonville advanced to the 2004 NCAA Tournament after winning the Atlantic Sun Tournament. Despite only finishing at 11-16 last season, the Camels return all six starters from a year ago.
“Our schedule lends itself to a start against several very balanced teams that will have the opportunity to win their conference or that we project will have very successful seasons,” said LSU head coach Fran Flory. “Georgia Southern is a nice starting tournament for us. I think we’ll be able to get some people some quality experience.”
After falling just short of an NCAA Tournament bid last season, the Tigers return five starters this season with a renewed confidence and a growing maturity to help them reach their goal.
“We were one of the last teams out of the NCAA Tournament last year,” said Flory. “It was a huge disappointment, but a great growth point for us and a great level for us to mature past. The preparation that this team put in throughout the summer and throughout last spring in forming our team is amazing.”
Returning all but one starter from a year ago, the Tigers also have the much-needed game experience they lacked over the last several years. LSU’s roster includes two proven seniors and a quintet of juniors that have played an integral role on the team for the last two seasons.
“The group of people that we have relied on for the last two years are juniors this year, or in their third year of training, and typically that is a very positive year,” said Flory. “With their maturity and experience level, we are now able to rely on them.
“Certainly having Jelena (Mijatovic) and Ivana (Kuzmic) as seniors is very important because they are players who worked very hard to prepare for the season. They realize this is their last shot to be successful and to be in the NCAA Tournament. They are as prepared as they can be.”
This will be first meetings in school history between the Tigers and any of the three tournament opponents. LSU is 22-6 all-time in season openers. The Tigers have won eight of their last nine season openers. The only loss was a 3-1 defeat by Santa Clara in the Colorado PowerBar Invitational in 2000.
LSU returns to Georgia next weekend as the Tigers participate in the Georgia State Invitational in Atlanta. LSU will face the host Lady Panthers, Jacksonville State and Wright State in the two-day tournament.