Editor’s Note: Third in a series of 12 volleyball articles recapping the outstanding 2006 season, previewing the 2007 season, giving fans basic volleyball rules, terminology and scoring basics leading up to the season-opening Mizuno Tiger Classic tournament in the Maravich Center on Aug. 24-25.
BATON ROUGE — After an outstanding season in 2006 that saw the Tigers rank second in the SEC in kills per game and fourth in hitting percentage, LSU is in the enviable position of having two of the best outside hitters in the conference, while adding a pair of new faces.
The Tigers’ first two-time All-SEC selection since Meagan Davis in 2000-01, Marina Skender (Zagreb, Croatia) led the league and ranked sixth in the nation in service aces per game. In addition, the junior led the team and ranked in the top 10 in the conference in kills per game. She enters the 2007 campaign with added strength and she will be called upon to demonstrate her leadership on the court.
“After certainly being a very impacting player and key for our team over the last two years, Marina has now become much more physical and stronger,” said LSU head coach Fran Flory. “I think that she will be much more durable this year. She’ll be a more balanced and mature player. I think she will be the leader of our group.”
Kyna Washington (Houston, Texas) has been a stalwart on the Tiger outside for the last two seasons, developing her raw athletic skills to become an outstanding player. The junior ranked second on the team in kills and service aces last year while ranking fourth in both blocks and digs.
“Kyna has matured as a player,” said Flory. “In the past she really relied on being a great athlete who played volleyball and now she is at the phase where she is a great volleyball player who is a great athlete. That maturation is going to make her that much more successful and efficient for us this year.”
A valuable practice player a year ago while she gained experience as a redshirt, Shannon Balikowsky (Baton Rouge, La.) will compete for playing time on the outside this season after an outstanding local career at Woodlawn High School.
“Shannon had a great year of training and developing as a redshirt,” said Flory. “She has overcome some injuries that were a setback in the spring. She is a great physical talent who is becoming a solid volleyball player.”
A pleasant addition to the Tiger signing class, Angela Bensend (Plano, Texas) helped Bishop Lynch High School, alma mater of former Tiger standout Regan Hood, to a 2004 Texas Private and Parochial School state title. After transferring to Frisco Centennial as a senior, she helped lead her team to the district championship.
“Angela has really been a nice surprise in this year’s recruiting class,” said Flory. “She developed a little more quickly through club volleyball as a terminator. She has developed all phases of her game so that she can potentially be a sixth rotation player early in her career for us. We’re excited about how quickly she has developed.”
The team will open the season on Aug. 24 against New Orleans in the Maravich Center in the Mizuno Tiger Classic at 7 p.m. The Tigers will then take on Louisiana-Monroe on Aug. 25 at 11 a.m. before closing out the two-day tournament against Saint Louis at 7 p.m. Admission to all volleyball matches is only $5 for adults and $3 for children. Team posters and schedule cards will be available to pick up throughout the tournament.