BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – On the day before the LSU volleyball team is slated to start its preseason camp, middle blocker Desiree Elliott was one of nine players to collect 2013 All-SEC Preseason-Team honors Friday as announced by the league office.
For Elliott, it was her second straight season named to the squad. LSU has been represented during all seven seasons of the All-SEC Preseason Team going back to the 2007 campaign.
Elliott, a two-time All-SEC pick, has already hammered home 994 kills during her first three seasons with the Purple & Gold and is six kills away from becoming the 20th player to join the program’s 1,000 career kills club. She has established herself as one of the SEC’s top middle blockers and is a force in all facets of the game. The 2010 SEC Freshman of the Year posted 3.40 kills per set last season, second on the team and second among SEC middles. Elliott also racked up 99 blocks and led the Tigers in that category for the second consecutive season.
“We’re extremely thrilled for Desiree to be recognized by the SEC coaches,” head coach Fran Flory said. “Certainly, we expect big things from her heading into her senior season. There’s no doubt that Desiree is one of the focus points that our opponents try to take away every match. When we are able to use her quickness and explosiveness in our system, that’s when we are playing our most effective and up-tempo brand of volleyball.”
Earlier this week, the Tigers were selected as the SEC Western Division co-favorite with Texas A&M in the league’s annual preseason poll. LSU has earned 171 victories, an average of 21.4 wins per season, to go along with seven of the last eight SEC Western Division titles since 2005. The Tigers also are one of 34 programs to appear in six NCAA Tournaments during the previous eight-year stretch.
LSU will hold its annual Purple & Gold Scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 24 at 6 p.m. inside the Maravich Center where fans will have the opportunity to get their first glimpse of the 2013 Tigers. Admission to the scrimmage and the entire 2013 home schedule which features 13 matches beginning with the Tiger Classic on Aug. 30-31 are free compliments of The Advocate’s “Geaux Free” program.
Prior to the Purple & Gold Scrimmage, LSU will hold a free Kids Clinic where the Tigers will instruct basic skills beginning at 4 p.m. for children eighth grade and under. To reserve your spot, contact Lauren at promotions@lsu.edu by Friday, Aug. 23 and include how many children will be attending the event. Check-in for the Kids Clinic starts at 3 p.m.
LSU will square off with Texas-San Antonio (Aug. 30 – 7 p.m.), UC Davis (Aug. 31 – 10 a.m.) and San Diego State (Aug. 31 – 7:30 p.m.) for the season-opening Tiger Classic at the Maravich Center. Admission is free courtesy of The Advocate’s “Geaux Free” program.
For all of the latest news and information on Tiger volleyball, visit www.lsusports.net/volleyball. Fans can also follow the program on its social media outlets at www.Facebook.com/lsuvolleyball along with @lsuvolleyball and @lsucoachfran on Twitter.
2013 All-SEC Preseason Team
Player, School, Position, Height, Class, Hometown
Whitney Billings, Kentucky, RS, 6-2, Sr., Helena, Ala.
Desiree Elliott, LSU, MB, 6-0, Sr., Cypress, Texas
Lisa Henning, Missouri, OH, 6-0, Sr., Blue Springs, Mo.
Camila Jersonsky, Auburn, MB, 5-11, Sr., Buenos Aires, Argentina
Molly Kreklow, Missouri, S, 6-0, Sr., Delano, Minn.
Chloe Mann, Florida, MB, 6-2, Sr., Gainesville, Fla.
Ziva Recek, Florida, OH, 6-0, So., Kocevje, Slovenia
Juliette Thevenin, South Carolina, OH, 6-1, Sr., Mont-sur-Marchinne, Belgium
Allie Sawatzky, Texas A&M, S, 6-2, Sr., St. Andrews, Manitoba, Canada