Friday: Outside Hitters
Saturday: Middle Blockers
Monday: Defensive Specialists
LSU volleyball has garnered an impressive 140-44 mark and is one of 18 programs in the nation to secure six consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances en route to the nation’s 11th-best winning percentage going back to the 2005 season.
A core group of returnees fueled by 2011 All-SEC Preseason performers Michele Williams and Desiree Elliott coupled with a top 20 recruiting class from PrepVolleyball.com has positioned the Tigers to continue their championship tradition by making a run at its unprecedented seventh straight SEC Western Division title and NCAA Tournament berth.
Third in a four-part series previewing the upcoming season takes a glance at what LSU fans can expect from the Tiger defensive specialists this fall.
BATON ROUGE – LSU returns all three members of its stout back row that garnered a 97 percent serve-receive effort coupled with an impressive 65 percent sideout efficiency during SEC play. The Tigers also scooped up 15.98 digs per set last season, second-highest in the SEC.
Senior Lauren Waclawczyk anchored the unit behind 425 digs for the second consecutive season, and is on the verge of becoming the 11th player in program history to eclipse 1,000 career digs. Her 4.05 digs per set were sixth in the SEC sparked by 27 double digit digs efforts. The San Antonio, Texas, native cranked a team-high 28 aces fueled by a deadly jump serve.
Juniors Sam Delahoussaye and Meghan Mannari also were key cogs to LSU’s ability to play excellent defense and pass well. Both amassed over 250 digs en route to securing 10 or more digs on 13 occasions apiece. The duo also combined for 42 perfect-passer ratings as the Tigers won 35 of 36 sets when posting a 70 percent or better sideout rating last season.
Victoria Jacobson and Brittany Steele, a pair of sophomores, will add depth to the backcourt. Steele played sparingly during her freshman campaign, but averaged 0.82 digs per frame in her 11 sets of action. Jacobsen was used primarily as a serving specialist with nine of her 15 appearances coming during SEC play.
“Our philosophy will continue to be that the first touch is the most important,” head coach Fran Flory said. “The back row did a phenomenal job of making match-changing plays when we needed them the most last season. Lauren, Meghan and Sam are all extremely comfortable playing with each other. I don’t doubt that they’ll continue to provide our team with outstanding energy and having another year in our system will only benefit this group.”
LSU embarks on its 2011 campaign by playing host to Alcorn State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Jacksonville State and 2010 NCAA Tournament participant Miami, Fla. at the Maravich Center 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 home mark since 2005.
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