LSU volleyball has racked up a 115-38 record to go along with the nation’s 11th best winning percentage and is one of only 20 programs nationally to collect five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances since 2005.
Under the direction of SEC and AVCA South Coach of the Year Fran Flory, the Tigers took their championship tradition to the next level in 2009, not only claiming the program’s fifth straight SEC Western Division crown but LSU’s first overall SEC title since 1991.
First in a four-part series previewing the upcoming season takes a glance at what LSU fans can expect from the Tigers’ back row this fall.
A key to LSU’s success during its five-year run has been the Tigers ability to play excellent defense and pass well. That trend is expected to continue in 2010 as junior Lauren Waclawczyk quickly established herself as a player worthy of filling the libero position left by two-time All-American Elena Martinez.
Waclawczyk notched 425 digs at a 3.76 per set ratio to rank 10th in the SEC. She provided double-digit digs in 24 of her 31 starts at libero, and her deadly jump serve registered a team-high 33 aces aided by 10 multi-ace efforts.
Returning are sophomores Sam Delahoussaye and Meghan Mannari, who also will compete for time on the back row. Delahoussaye emerged as a strong defensive option and finished fourth on the team with 257 digs with nine of her 11 double-digit dig outings coming in SEC play. Mannari played sparingly during her freshman season but saw most of her action down the stretch after battling back from injury.
Victoria Jacobsen and Brittany Steele, a pair of freshmen, expect to add depth and are looking to make an instant impact on the Tigers’ backcourt defense. Jacobsen made the transition from setter on her high school team where she earned two District MVP honors and two All-State First-Team selections at St. Thomas More in Lafayette. Steele took home back-to-back District Defensive MVP awards and amassed a school-record 860 digs to cap her career at Georgetown High School in Texas.
“The back row is one of the spots where we feel we have a lot of depth and potential,” Flory said. “Our philosophy has always been that the first touch is the most important. Lauren did a great job of taking the reins following Elena last season and there will be opportunities for all five players to be in the mix. This group has outstanding energy, competiveness and the ability to make match-changing plays.”
LSU opens the 2010 season against Pacific, Siena and Texas A&M as part of the Texas A&M Invitational on Friday and Saturday. 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.