BATON ROUGE — The LSU volleyball team wrapped up its first week of preseason practice Friday afternoon, capping a seven-day span that included 12 sessions with five days of two-a-days.
Head coach Fran Flory said the team has come in with a tremendous attitude and the coaches are very pleased with the progress after the first week of practice.
“Our return to the gym has met our expectations as a staff,” Flory said. “We are prepared, focused and ahead of schedule in our preseason training. I credit that to the team and all of the preparation they put in this summer to get to this point.”
For Sam Dabbs, a junior setter who transferred from Louisville, and freshman Lauren Waclawczyk, this week marked their first official practices with the rest of the team. In addition to freshman Michele Williams, who graduated high school early and practiced with the team in the spring, they join a squad of three seniors, two juniors and four sophomores who claimed the Southeastern Conference Western Division title together in 2007.
Flory said the newcomers are already beginning to find their place on a team that has a high level of chemistry among one another. She also said they have used that chemistry to push each other every day.
“As expected, this team is a tight-knit group,” she explained. “However, they are able to step outside of their friendships on the court and challenge each other to play at the highest level. The newcomers really have taken advantage of the experience of the seniors and the juniors and have fit right in.”
Flory especially praised two of her sophomores ? setter Brittney Johnson and middle blocker Tania Schatow ? for their performances in the first week of practice.
“Brittney and Tania have really come in and done outstanding jobs so far and have surpassed the expectations we had for them,” she said. “I’m very proud of the effort both of them have shown so far.”
The defending SEC West Champions kick off their home schedule Sept. 5 in the Tiger Classic. Season tickets are $40 for adults and $20 for youth and can be purchased online at LSUsports.net or by calling 1-800-960-TKTS.
Among this year’s volleyball promotions will be the Kids Zone, located next to Section 112, where before every match kids 12 & under can visit to enjoy a variety of activities from designing Spirit Signs to creating their own edible Sand Art. In the Tigers’ SEC home-opener Sept. 26 against Tennessee, the first 1,000 fans will receive trading cards. October will present this year’s “Dig for the Cure” campaign, supporting Breast Cancer Awareness. This year’s “Dig for the Cure” finale will take place Oct. 24 when the Tigers play host to Florida at 7 p.m. A pink carnival will be held and donations collected benefiting Komen for the Cure.
For a full list of this season’s promotions, visit www.LSUsports.net/promotions.
In addition to various promotions, the Tigers are making a big change to their home atmosphere. All seats will now be located in the 100 section of the Maravich Center. Fans will enter through the lower Southwest gate, located closest to Mike’s Habitat. The Fan Zone will also be located at the Southwest gate, allowing fans to pick up their 2008 posters and schedule cards upon entering.