BATON ROUGE – The LSU volleyball team charged into its second week of preseason camp Wednesday with a single three-hour workout at the Maravich Center. The Tigers have now completed 15 workouts over the first nine days of camp.
“We’re making good progress, especially with the way our blocking is coming along,” head coach Fran Flory said. “That’s the area that I’m most impressed with. We’re touching a lot of balls and terminating a lot of rally situations that maybe last year we weren’t able to do.”
LSU registered 2.20 blocks per set to rank sixth in the league. The Tigers finished among the SEC’s Top 3 in five of the six other statistical categories, including 14.35 kills per set on a .260 team hitting percentage. Those marks also checked in amongst the NCAA’s Top 25.
For LSU to duplicate those impressive offensive feats during the 2011 season, the Tigers will rely on the development of a pair of talented young setters in Shelby Pursley and Malorie Pardo.
“Our offense is still a work in progress and it’s going to continue to be,” Flory said. “When you have young setters, we’re going to get better and better as the year progresses. Shelby has come in prepared and done a great job of understanding what we want. Malorie is right on her heals, and the competition is very, very close right now. They’re both very capable and add to our team in different ways. The versatility they possess is going to be extremely valuable this season.”
The defending six-time SEC Western Division champions have amassed an impressive 140-44 mark en route to a program record six consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances dating back to the 2005 season. The Tigers are part of an elite group of 18 programs nationally to accomplish that feat.
LSU is slated to have nine additional practices over the next eight days highlighted by the program’s annual Purple & Gold Scrimmage set for Saturday at 7 p.m. inside the Maravich Center.
The Tigers open the regular season at home by welcoming Alcorn State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Jacksonville State and 2010 NCAA Tournament participant Miami, Fla. for the Tiger Classic on Aug. 26-27.
Fans are encouraged to take advantage of the Geaux Free program for all home matches this season compliments of The Advocate. The Tigers have compiled a 62-10 mark at home since 2005.
For all of the latest information on LSU volleyball, log on to http://www.lsusports.net/volleyball or follow the program’s social media outlets at http://twitter.com/lsuvolleyball or LSU Volleyball on Facebook.
2011 LSU Volleyball Preseason Practice Schedule
Thursday, August 18
8:30-11:30 a.m.
3:30-6 p.m.
Friday, August 19
8:30-11:30 a.m.
3:30-6 p.m.
Saturday, August 20
4-6 p.m. – Kid’s Clinic
7 p.m. – Purple & Gold Scrimmage
Sunday, August 21
Off
Monday, August 22
2:30-5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, August 23
2:30-5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, August 24
2:30-5:30 p.m.
Thursday, August 25
2:30-5:30 p.m.
Friday, August 26
12 p.m. & 7 p.m. – Tiger Classic
Saturday, August 27
11 a.m. & 7 p.m. – Tiger Classic