Overall Record: 2-4
SEC Record: 0-0
Last Week – Hurricane Isaac Tiger Classic [Houston, Texas]
Aug. 31 – at Rice [W, 3-0 – 25-16, 25-15, 25-21]
Aug. 31 – vs. No. 12 Washington [L, 3-0 – 25-21, 25-20, 25-22]
Sept. 1 – vs. No. 7 Purdue [L, 3-0 – 25-20, 25-19, 25-20]
This Week – Carolina Classic [Chapel Hill, N.C.]
Sept. 7 – at North Carolina [6 p.m. – ESPN3.com]
Sept. 8 – vs. Middle Tennessee [9 a.m.]
Sept. 8 – vs. Western Michigan [4:30 p.m.]
Notes on the Tigers
LSU made an unexpected trip to Houston as the Tiger Classic was relocated from the Maravich Center to Rice University due to Hurricane Isaac. The Tigers defeated Rice before dropping a pair of hard-fought decisions to No. 7 Purdue and No. 12 Washington. All four of LSU’s setbacks this season have come against Top 20 opponents. Meghan Mannari secured Tiger Classic All-Tournament Team honors and has recorded double-digit digs in her last five outings highlighted by an 18-scoop output versus No. 12 Washington. She has averaged 4.44 digs per set and has climbed her way to sixth place in the SEC rankings. Mannari enters the weekend 107 digs away from becoming the 12th player in program history to reach 1,000 career digs. On the front row, Khourtni Fears has tallied 22 blocks at a 1.22 per set average to rank third among the SEC leaders. She has accumulated four or more blocks three times on the young season. Desiree Elliott has tallied 10 or more kills on three occasions and her 3.22 per set average is 11th in the SEC. She powered home 11 kills on a season-high .562 hitting percentage during LSU’s sweep of Rice. Cati Leak has provided a balanced 2.44 kills, 2.33 digs, 0.78 blocks and 0.33 aces per set as a six-rotation player. She powered home 10 kills to headline the Tigers against No. 12 Washington. Madie Jones is second on the team and 16th in the SEC with 2.94 kills per set. LSU wraps up its challenge non-conference schedule and travels to the Carolina Classic to face host North Carolina, Middle Tennessee and Western Michigan. All three programs were 2011 NCAA Tournament participants. LSU’s match versus North Carolina will be carried live on ESPN3.com, while all three matches will have free live audio available inside the Geaux Zone on LSUsports.net.