SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The LSU volleyball team opens the 2009 season against No. 5 Stanford, Denver and host Notre Dame this weekend at the Shamrock Invitational.
LSU has compiled a 25-10 record during its first tournament of the season under head coach Fran Flory, including nine consecutive winning opening weekends dating back to the 2000 season.
The Tigers wrapped up their 15 day preseason camp Wednesday highlighted by the annual Purple & Gold scrimmage last Saturday where Preseason All-SEC pick Brittnee Cooper knocked a team-high 13 kills and added five blocks. The Houston native paced the Tigers connecting for a .336 hitting percentage and her 1.21 blocks per set paced the SEC.
“We’ve had an extremely productive preseason camp,” Flory said. “Like every other team in the country, we’re tired of playing against each other. This is one of the best first weekend tournaments in the nation. Our goal is to play with everything to gain and nothing to lose.”
Joining Cooper is Lauren DeGirolamo and Marina Skender, who return to action from injury. DeGirolamo missed the last 16 matches of 2008, while Skender had to sit out the entire season. The pair of fifth-year seniors racked up impressive 2007 campaigns, combining for 808 kills and 295 blocks.
“I think Lauren and Marina are going to be the two most excited players on the court Friday night,” Flory said. “They’ve worked really hard to get back to where they are. They’ll be a little anxious at the start but they’re veterans that will settle in quickly.”
Michele Williams moved from outside hitter to middle blocker after DeGirolamo’s injury and pounded double-digit kills in 10 of her 12 starts. She registered a .375 hitting percentage or higher in seven of her last nine matches en route to a unanimous selection to the 2008 SEC All-Freshmen Team.
Together, LSU’s high octane quartet boasts 53 career accolades, including 2007 and 2008 AVCA All-American Honorable Mention status for both DeGirolamo and Cooper, respectively.
LSU’s back row enters a new era after the graduation of Elena Martinez, a two-time ACVA All-American Honorable Mention selection and SEC Defensive of the Year.
Lauren Waclawczyk was used an extra passer and serving specialist last season is expected to get the start at defensive specialist.
“At times, Elena was a one-woman show last season,” Flory said. “Lauren along with Sam [Delahoussaye] has done a great job of developing. As a team, I believe we can be have better overall ball control which will allow us to be more productive in our system.”
First serve against the fifth-ranked Cardinal is slated for 4 p.m. with live stats available on LSUsports.net.