OMAHA, Neb. — The No. 21-ranked LSU volleyball team is set to open the 2008 season this weekend in the Bluejay Invitational hosted by Creighton at the Omaha Civic Auditorium in Omaha, Neb.
The Tigers’ first match features a contest with Texas A&M on Friday at 4 p.m. They will also play matches Saturday against Creighton (10 a.m.) and No. 16 Minnesota (5:30 p.m.)
“This team has had some very good practices, and I know they’re ready to play,” LSU head coach Fran Flory said. “I’ve put the pressure on them to succeed because this is a group who can handle it. They believe in their abilities and truly believe they can win the match every time they step out on the court.”
Texas A&M, LSU’s first opponent, returns eight letterwinners from a 21-10 team, including six players who average nearly two years of starting experience. Though not ranked in the Top 25, they are receiving votes and sit at 34th. The Aggies just missed out on making the NCAA Tournament field in 2007.
“I think playing Texas A&M will be a great test for us to start the season,” Flory said. “After just missing out on the NCAA Tournament last year, this is a key match for A&M and one that can help them get in this year when all is said and done. Any matches they can win outside the Big 12, especially against an SEC opponent, is important for them.”
LSU last faced Texas A&M in 2006, a match the Tigers won in four games over the Aggies in the Billiken Invitational in St. Louis, Mo. Texas A&M won the previous meeting in 2005, however, and holds the overall series advantage, 18-11.
Creighton finished 21-10 a year ago and welcomes back four starters and nine letterwinners from that squad. Minnesota went 18-13 in 2007 and was a participant in the NCAA Tournament for a ninth-straight year. The Golden Gophers return four starters in addition to their libero.
While LSU has never played host Creighton, it has matched up with Minnesota two times and won both meetings. The last of those was a 3-0 decision in 2006 ? also part of the Billiken Invitational in St. Louis along with Texas A&M.
The Tigers have fared well in season-openers, boasting a 25-6 record in the first matches of the year. They recorded a 3-0 victory over UNO to open the 2007 season ? their seventh straight season-opening victory dating back to 2001.
LSU returns six starters in addition to star libero senior Elena Martinez for the fall. Martinez along with senior outside hitter Kyna Washington and junior middle blocker Lauren DeGirolamo were All-Southeastern Conference selections in 2007 and also made the all-conference preseason team. The Tigers also added two freshmen in Lauren Waclawczyk and Michele Williams, and junior setter Sam Dabbs, who transferred from Louisville.
The Tigers will be looking to defend three straight SEC Western Division titles and also vying for a fourth-consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament as they begin the 2008 campaign.
Fans can follow along with livestats of the Bluejay Invitational by going to LSUsports.net/livestats. Fans can also access streaming video and commentary of LSU’s match with Creighton on Saturday only through www.gocreighton.com. Creighton radio personality Brad Burwell and former Bluejay volleyball player Erin Swanson will call the action.