The LSU brand is alive and thriving and one program many haven't taken note of yet is the LSU Volleyball program. Under Head Coach Tonya Johnson the program is coming off it’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2017 and it’s first win in the NCAA Tournament since 2014. Johnson is an LSU volleyball alumna who was a member of the first LSU volleyball team to make a NCAA Final Four appearance (1990).
In 2020 prior to Johnson taking over the Tigers were 9-13 overall. In her first season at the helm the team went 13-14 and made huge strides. For the 2022 season after one full season under her belt, the Tigers were 16-14 overall with a conference record of 9-9. With the players returning and the incoming talented transfers we could see the 2023 season be the one where the program takes the next step and challenges.
The top players returning are outside hitter Sanaa Dotson and middle blocker Anita Anwusi. Dotson was the team leader in kills with a whopping 436 for an average of 3.66 kills per set. Anwusi was selected to the USA Volleyball 2023 Women’s Collegiate National Team led the team in blocks with 136. She also reached some big career milestones of 500 career kills and 300 career blocks. Dotson also led the team with 488 points. I would also look out for is Paige Flickinger who was third on the team in points with (286.5) behind only Dotson (488) and Anwusi (299).
Points is a tabulation of anything that results in a point. * Kills + service aces + block solos + ½ block assists = points.
Paige Flickinger - Senior- Outside Hitter
LSU will have nine newcomers including three grad transfers in Jade Demps, Erin Carmichael and Emily Mitter . Demps Played three seasons at Wisconsin where she helped the Badgers to two Final Four appearances and a National Championship title in 2021. She also attended Broughton High School in North Carolina, the same high school as Pete Maravich. Erin Carmichael is a two-time Ohio Valley Conference Champion at Jacksonville State . In 2019 she helped lead the program’s to it's first OVC championship in a decade. In 2022, Emily Mitter played for the Campbells where she played in all 30 matches and led the team with 5.71 assists per set and had 662 total assists with 2.14 digs per set (248 total), 20 aces and four kills.
The Freshman
LSU 2023 Schedule
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