EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part 11 of a 12-part volleyball series recapping the outstanding 2005 season, previewing the 2006 season, giving fans basic volleyball rules, terminology and scoring basics leading up to the season-opening Tiger Invitational tournament in the Maravich Center on Aug. 25-26, featuring the “Pack Pete’s Seats” match against No. 2 Penn State at 7 p.m. on Aug. 26.
BATON ROUGE — After their best season in over a decade and picked to repeat as the Southeastern Conference Western Division champion, an LSU volleyball match provides a fun and exciting experience for the whole family.
After playing only six matches in the Maravich Center a year ago due to circumstances beyond their control, the Tigers begin the season at home with the Tiger Invitational and are scheduled to play in the Maravich Center 13 times in 2006. As part of the season-opening tournament, LSU will host 2004 NCAA Tournament participant Rice on Friday at 7 p.m., before facing in-state rival Nicholls State on Saturday at 11 a.m. The Tiger will close out the tournament against No. 2 Penn State on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Admission to the tournament is free with an “Advocate” ticket. Those tickets are available through the LSU Promotions Department by calling (225) 578-8960 before 4:30 p.m. on Friday. In addition, fans are encouraged to wear white to the Penn State match, and “Walk on the Wild Side” t-shirts will be given away in an attempt to “Pack Pete’s Seats” and break the LSU volleyball attendance record.
In 2006, the SEC has made the first dramatic alteration of the volleyball format in 15 years, since the addition of Arkansas and South Carolina to the league. Gone is the SEC Tournament, which had been a staple of the postseason since 1979, and in its place is a double round-robin regular season league format which will see each of the conference’s 11 teams play one another twice to determine the league champion and who earns the SEC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Promotions included with each of the 10 SEC home matches include “Group Night” against South Carolina on Sept. 22, where groups of 10 or more get in free with “Advocate” tickets by calling the LSU Promotions office at 578-8960 the week before the match, and fans can also receive free volleyball cups. Against Georgia on Sept. 24 for “Family Day”, there will be pre-game inflatables for the kids to enjoy and a LSU volleyball lunch box giveaway.
Fans are encouraged to show their Tiger pride by wearing gold against Ole Miss on Sept. 29. Admission is free for those wearing gold to the game and gold “Walk on the Wild Side” t-shirts will be given away. On Oct. 1 against Mississippi State is “Camp Reunion Safari Day”. It is a chance for anyone who participated in the Fran Flory Tiger volleyball camps to get into the match free by wearing their camp t-shirt. Trading cards will be given away for a postgame autograph session.
LSU faculty and staff are encouraged to come out and support the Tigers against Kentucky on Oct. 20. A fan favorite, “Mike the Tiger’s Birthday Party”, is planned for Oct. 22 against nationally ranked Tennessee. Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts can get into the match free with “Advocate” tickets by calling the LSU Promotions office the week of the match at 578-8960. Pictures with Mike the mascot, a Mike the Tiger cake, inflatables and Scout volleyball badges will help fans celebrate the occasion.
Students are encouraged to come out against nationally ranked Florida for “Gold Digger Student Night” on Nov. 3. It is the Student Point game and “Gold Digger” t-shirts will be given away.
Mizuno is helping youth volleyball as part of “Mizuno Team Day” against Auburn on Nov. 5. Local teams get into the match free with “Advocate” tickets available through the LSU Promotions office at 578-8960. In addition, LSU backpacks will be given away at the match. The PMAC pep rally will be held against Arkansas on Nov. 8. Pom-poms will be available as local cheer teams get in free with “Advocate” tickets.
The Tigers close out the home schedule against Alabama for “Senior Night” on Nov. 10. There will be an autographed senior jersey giveaway to help send out the four magnificent seniors in style.
The 64-team field for the 26th annual NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament will be announced on Nov. 26 live on ESPNews. The first and second round matches will be held from Nov. 30 until Dec. 3 on campus sites. The regionals will be held on Dec. 8-9 in Gainesville, Fla., Honolulu, Hawai’i, Austin, Texas and Seattle, Wash. The Final Four and championship matches will be held on Dec. 14 and 16 at the Qwest Center Omaha in Omaha, Neb.