Editor’s Note: Eleventh 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 recording its best back-to-back season in over a decade and picking up back-to-back Southeastern Conference Western Division championships, an LSU volleyball match provides a fun and exciting experience for the whole family.
Promotions for the season will be focused around a month-long “Dig for the Cure” theme that will help to raise money and awareness about breast cancer to coincide with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. LSU will warm-up in specially designed pink shirts before the matches against Alabama on Oct. 5 to kick off the event, and don the shirts again against Arkansas on Oct. 19 to close the campaign.
Against the Crimson Tide and the Gamecocks, admission is free for those wearing pink. The first 200 fans against Alabama will receive a Piggy Bank that they are encouraged to take home and collect change in throughout the month. Fans are then asked to bring those filled piggy banks to the match against Arkansas and donate the spare change to breast cancer research, but fans will get to keep their piggy banks. In addition, fans can donate a quarter to the special wishing well at the Ole Miss match on Oct. 17 and fans have the opportunity to have their LSU wish come true.
Specific match promotions included with SEC home matches include “Pack Pete’s Seats” against South Carolina on Sept. 21. All fans wearing gold get in for free and the match is the first of two Student-Point Games on the season as the Tigers attempt to break the LSU volleyball attendance record. Over the last two years, the Tigers have more than doubled their average volleyball attendance and have recorded two of the top 10 attendance marks in school history. The first 200 fans to arrive against the Gamecocks will receive free LSU volleyball t-shirts.
Against Florida on Sept. 23, LSU volleyball camp alumni are encouraged to come out and support the Tigers. All campers will receive free admission when wearing their camp t-shirt to the match. In addition, as part of the “Gold Digger Day”, the first 200 fans will receive a free “Gold Digger” t-shirt.
While also kicking off the “Dig for the Cure” campaign, the match against Alabama on Oct. 5 will serve as Faculty/Staff night. LSU faculty and staff can register for a tour of the Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes, a tour of the Maravich Center, including the LSU volleyball locker room, and receive special recognition during the match.
Mizuno is helping youth volleyball as part of “Mizuno Team Day” against Mississippi State on Oct. 7. Local teams get into the match free with “Advocate” tickets available through the LSU Promotions office at 578-8960. In addition, senior citizens are asked to come out for free admission and an afternoon of Bingo. The first 100 fans will receive free wristbands.
While getting the chance to have your wish come true against Ole Miss on Oct. 17, the first 100 fans will receive free car magnets. Closing out the “Dig for the Cure” event against Arkansas on Oct. 19, the first 200 fans will receive free t-shirts.
While in the midst of the conference schedule, LSU will step outside of the SEC and face Notre Dame on Oct. 23 in the Maravich Center in a rare mid-week non-conference match. Students are encouraged to attend as fans can participate in a giant twister competition. The first 200 fans will also receive a free koozie.
Against Kentucky on Nov. 2, all fans wearing family friendly LSU pajamas will get in free and the match will serve as the second Student-Point game of the year. The first 100 in attendance will also receive free alarm clocks. A fan favorite, “Mini Mike & Family Day “, is planned for Nov. 4 against Tennessee. All kids 12 and under will get in free and have the chance to win one of 100 tiger tails, while there will be pre-game activities for the kids to enjoy.
Against Georgia on Nov. 16, groups of 10 or more get in free with “Advocate” tickets by calling the LSU Promotions office at 578-8960. Fans will also be treated to a pre-game tailgate party and cook-off and trading cards will be given away.
In the final conference match of the year at home, the Tigers will face Auburn on Nov. 18 for “Senior Night”. Fans bringing non-perishable food items to the match will get in free to support the Thanksgiving Food Drive. In addition, the first 100 fans will receive free LSU pot holders just in time for the holiday season.
The Tigers will close out the regular season against Tulane on Nov. 24 at home. As winter approaches, LSU fans will be able to bid farewell to the summer with a Tiger Beach Party. The Tigers will then await an NCAA Tournament bid as tournament action begins at sub-regional sites on Nov. 29.
“I think our overall schedule is one of the best schedules we could have for this team,” said Flory. “It worked out just perfect for us. It’ll give us the opportunity to have significant wins and the opportunity to be seen as an NCAA Tournament team early in the season. Then we can hopefully continue our quest to be SEC West champions and step into another championship as well.”
The 64-team field for the 27th annual NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament will be announced on Nov. 25 live on ESPNews. The first and second round matches will be held from Nov. 29 until Dec. 2 on campus sites. The regionals will be held on Dec. 7-8 in Gainesville, Fla., Honolulu, University Park, Penn., Palo Alto, Calif., and Madison, Wisc. The Final Four and championship matches will be held on Dec. 13 and 15 at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, Calif.
If you have any questions about any of the above promotions for the 2007 LSU Volleyball season or any LSU Promotions, you can contact the LSU Promotions Department at 578-8960.