BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The No. 23 LSU volleyball team was predicted to win the SEC Western Division Wednesday in the annual coaches’ preseason poll as announced by the league office. The Tigers received seven out of a possible 10 first-place votes for 13 points.
“Being selected to win the SEC West is something we don’t take for granted,” head coach Fran Flory said. “We’re excited about the challenge that lies ahead to not only defend our division championship but our overall conference title. This selection by the SEC coaches is a wonderful tribute to our young group and a reflection of what our program has been able to accomplish over the last five seasons.”
The Tigers have strung together five straight SEC Western Division crowns and are 38-2 against its fellow division foes since 2006. Under Flory, LSU is one of only 20 programs to appear in each of the last five NCAA Tournaments en route to the nation’s 11th-best winning percentage during its five-year run.
Following LSU in the West predictions in order are Auburn, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Alabama.
Tennessee picked up nine of the 11 first-place votes in the East and was selected to the win the overall SEC title. It marked the first time since 1994 that a school other than Florida has been voted to capture the conference crown.
The Gators came away with two first-place votes to finish with 21 points followed by Kentucky, Georgia and South Carolina to round out the East, respectively.
LSU plays host to its annual Purple & Gold Scrimmage Saturday at 7 p.m., inside the Maravich Center. Prior to the event, the Tigers will hold a free clinic for kids 12 and under starting at 5 p.m., as the defending SEC champions will instruct volleyball basics. To RSVP your spot, email promotions@lsu.edu or call the Marketing & Promotions office at (225) 578-6884 by 4 p.m., Friday.
The Tigers open the 2010 regular season against Pacific, Siena and Texas A&M on August 27-28 as part of the Texas A&M Invitational.
Season tickets for the defending SEC champions are on-sale now at www.lsutix.net starting at $40 for adults and $25 for youth ages 3-12.
For all of the latest information on Tiger volleyball, log on to http://www.lsusports.net/volleyball, follow the program’s twitter page at http://twitter.com/lsuvolleyball and check out the team’s official blog at http://lsuvolleyball.posterous.com.
2010 SEC Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
(First-Place Votes in Parentheses)
Western Division
Team, Points
LSU, 13
Auburn, 19
Arkansas, 25
Ole Miss, 43
Mississippi State, 46
Alabama, 49
Eastern Division
Team, Points
Tennessee, 11
Florida, 21
Kentucky, 25
Georgia, 39
South Carolina, 44
SEC Champion: Tennessee (9), Florida (2)