LSU volleyball has dominated the SEC Western Division by racking up four consecutive division championships. The Tigers are 28-2 against its fellow division foes since 2006, including 20 straight wins.
LSU also has accumulated four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and posted an impressive 90-31 record during its four-year run. The Tigers .743 winning percentage ranks 14th nationally. With a core of seasoned veterans and a crop of talented newcomers, LSU is more than capable of building on its championship tradition during the 2009 season.
Last in a four-part series previewing the upcoming season breaks down what LSU fans can expect from the Tiger middle blockers this fall.
LSU returns three of its strongest weapons in Brittnee Cooper, Lauren DeGirolamo and Michele Williams. Cooper and DeGirolamo earned AVCA All-America Honorable Mention accolades in 2007 and 2008, respectively.
Cooper has spent the offseason in each of the last two seasons training with the U.S. National A2 Team. She won medals on both occasions and returns as one of the most-respected players in the SEC. The Houston native popped 302 kills on a .336 hitting percentage and paced the league averaging 1.21 blocks per set in 2008.
DeGirolamo’s 2008 season was cut short due to injury, but she will rely on her proven ability to hit and block consistently to bounce back this season. She slapped 430 kills on a .332 hitting percentage to go along with 1.51 blocks per set in 2007.
Williams, a unanimous pick to the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2008, knocked 162 of her 191 kills in SEC action registering a .302 hitting percentage and will be looked upon to reach even greater heights in her sophomore campaign.
“We’ve made being an extremely disciplined blocking team one of areas of emphases during the spring and something that we will continue to fine tune in the fall,” head coach Fran Flory said. “With Brittnee, Lauren and Michele, this portion of the game can be dominating for us. Both players have the capable of taking over matches and controlling the match from the net.”
Additionally, Tania Schatow is a physical blocker that continues to build her game and will battle for playing time in the middle. She notched 48 blocks over 23 matches last season.
Ally Judkins, a 2008 TSWA All-State First-Team pick in Texas, enters LSU as one of PrepVolleyball.com’s Class of 2009 Top 50 recruits. She brings a strong swing and notable blocking ability that will be an asset at the net for the Tigers.
LSU opens the 2009 season this weekend at the Shamrock Invitational. The Tigers square off against No. 5 Stanford, Denver and host Notre Dame. Live stats for all three matches will be available on LSUsports.net
The Fall Sports Pass which costs $50 for adults, $25 for youth is now on-sale at www.LSUsports.net, the official Web site of LSU Athletics. Tickets also can be purchased at the ticket office or by calling (225) 578-2184 or (800) 960-8587. LSU students, faculty and staff are admitted free with a LSU ID.
The pass features 21 action packed events and results in a 66 percent savings off regular season ticket prices between the volleyball and soccer programs. Fans who purchase a Fall Sports Pass receive an LSU T-Shirt, Visor and Frisbee.