Editor’s Note: Fifth 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 losing four-year starter and 2006 All-American Daniela Romero to graduation, LSU will have to find a new player to run the Tiger offense in 2007. LSU has two outstanding athletes to select from as the pair compete for the starting role.
Playing behind Romero a year ago, Maggie Lonergan (Antioch, Ill.), may not have seen playing time often, but she did get a year of experience under one of the best in school history. Prior to coming to LSU, she led the Sky High Volleyball Club to back-to-back third place finishes nationally in the 15 Club National Division and 16 Club National Division in 2003 and 2004 while being named to the all-tournament teams both years.
“Maggie did a great job this past spring taking over after Dee Romero graduated,” said LSU head coach Fran Flory. “It’s difficult to step into an All-American’s shoes, but she truly became a leader on the court for this team. She developed great trust in the hitters and players around her. I think she’ll be very prepared to step in this fall and compete with Brittney for that starting setter role, which has not been established at this point.”
In addition to her time on the right side, Brittney Johnson (Baton Rouge) is likely to see considerable playing time at the setter position. The newcomer will need to learn the LSU offense but comes in with the advantage of having watched the Tigers for the few years while playing across campus at LSU’s University High School.
“Brittney has the ability to become an elite level setter,” said Flory. “The athleticism is there and she has all the tools. It will just be a matter of her developing into the collegiate game and her understanding of how to truly run our offense.”
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.