Tulane Tangles with Tigers as NCAA Volleyball Tournament Opens
Dec 3, 2009 | Women's Volleyball
Dec. 3, 2009
NEW ORLEANS - Longtime rivals Tulane and LSU add a new dimension to their long-running series on Friday as the two Louisiana powers meet in the NCAA Tournament for the first time as the at-large Green Wave face No. 15 LSU in the First Round at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Tulane (18-9) are making their second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance after earning the Conference USA automatic bid last season for the program's first ever trip to the Dance.
"Making the tournament two years in a row and being considered the year before that means a lot to this program," head coach Sinisa Momic said. "We expect a very tough match. LSU won their conference, being in the top 15 and bearing some very tough teams this year. We have to look at it as `all or nothing.' We're going to challenge them. Whatever the outcome is, we'll definitely do our best."
LSU (28-6 overall) won the SEC regular season title and are ranked 17th in the latest AVCA Top 25 poll. Tulane and LSU square off for the third time in 2009 with the two teams splitting the series this season. Tulane topped LSU on Sept. 11 at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Classic in Fogelman Arena, 3-1 (25-21,25-23,20-25,25-21). The Green Wave fell to LSU at the PMAC, 3-0 (25-22,25-16,25-21) on Sept. 5 in the Tiger Classic. The Green has won three out of five against LSU dating back to 2003, however LSU holds a 42-20 lead in the all-time series.
"I really don't think we could have gotten a better draw," senior libero Jenn Miller said. "We're playing in a gym that we've played in before, so we're comfortable. There's a lot of rivalry there, which will make it exciting. And it's close to home."
Sophomore outside hitter Visnja Djurdjevic, the C-USA co-Player of the Year, leads the Green Wave into the NCAA Tournament. She recorded 3.71 kills per set in the two meetings this season with LSU. On the season, Djurdjevic ranked second in C-USA in kills per set (4.25), 14th in digs per set (3.30) and also led the conference in service aces (.43 per set). Djurdjevic, last season's C-USA Freshman of the Year, also earned a spot on the All C-USA First Team and was the only league player to rank in the Top 20 in kills, aces, points and digs.
Miller paces the Green Wave on the back line with a team-high 3.92 digs per contest, while fellow senior Rachel Lindelow runs Tulane's offense out of the setter position. She's handed out 10.93 assists per set this season and was named Second Team All-Conference USA. Senior outside hitter Ksenija Vlaskovic adds 3.29 kills per set and earned Second Team All-Conference USA accolades, while junior middle blocker Lindsey Shepard leads Tulane's front row with 0.94 blocks per set. Shepard earned All-Academic team honors from C-USA. Freshman Marija Milosavljevic is Tulane's leading hitter at a .347 hitting percentage, ranking third in Conference USA.
As a team, the Green Wave are averaging 13.66 kills, 12.63 assists, 15.42 digs and 1.95 blocks per set. Tulane is hitting .221 (1366-549-3691) on the season while allowing opponents to attack at a .189 clip (1206-537-3539). Green Wave opponents, meanwhile, are averaging 12.06 kills, 11.39 assists, 15.78 digs and 2.37 blocks per set so far in 2009.
This season against LSU, Tulane is averaging 12.57 kills, 11.71 assists, 11.86 digs and 1.14 blocks per set. Tulane hit .253 (88-32-221) while LSU attacked at a .283 clip (97-33-226). LSU averaged 13.86 kills, 13.29 assists, 13.00 digs and 2.07 blocks per set against the Wave.
Senior outside hitter Marina Skender leads LSU with 3.50 kills per set, as she averaged 4.14 in the seven sets against Tulane this season. Senior middle blocker Brittnee Cooper adds 3.44 kills per set, while senior setter Sam Dabbs averaged 11.23 assists per set to go with a team-high .384 hitting percentage. Sophomore libero Lauren Waclawczyk paces the LSU backline with 3.73 digs per set while three others, Dabbs, Skender and senior middle blocker Lauren DeGirolamo average over two digs per set. LSU's advantage in the match should be up front, as the Tigers average 2.69 blocks per set, led by Cooper's 1.32 and sophomore middle Michele Williams' 1.14.
All-session ticket books, which include both first round games and the second round contest, are available for $12 for reserved seats. General admission ticket books are $10 for adults, $6 for students, $6 for seniors and $4 for youth. Single-session tickets are not available for purchase until 3:30 p.m. Friday at the Maravich Center box office. Tickets can be purchased online at www.LSUtix.net as well as in person at the LSU Athletics Ticket Office or by phone at 225-578-2184 or 800-960-TKTS. The ticket office is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on the first floor of the Athletics/Administration Building.
