JOURNAL SPORTS
College scholarship volleyball finally makes its return to Shreveport as LSUS will play its first home match today against Texas College.
The NAIA Division I Pilots (5-6) will open Red River Athletics Conference play against the Steers (1-5, 0-2) at 6 p.m. at The Dock.
LSUS will honor first responders in a “Salute to Service” on 9/11 with members of the Shreveport Fire Department, Balentine Ambulance, and the Louisiana National Guard among others being recognized before the match at 5:45 p.m.
Fans will have free admission to LSUS volleyball all season long thanks to sponsorship from Whataburger, who purchased season tickets for the 10-game home schedule.
“This week is special for LSUS as we welcome our community to the first home volleyball match in program history,” said Lucas Morgan, LSUS athletics director. “We’ve been excited to bring high level collegiate volleyball to Shreveport-Bossier, and there is nothing better than finally having the opportunity to see our Pilots compete at home in front of our students, alumni, families and community.
This evening’s game against Texas College will kick off a two-game conference set in which the Pilots will face the Steers again on Saturday at noon. Conference volleyball weekends will follow this Friday-Saturday pattern.
“It’s going to be surreal because this will be the first time we are playing at home, the first home match in the history of LSUS volleyball,” said first-year LSUS coach Callie Houlihan. “A lot of people from the school and the community will be there cheering for us, and it will be an ‘Oh my gosh moment,’ especially for the girls.”
LSUS has found measures of success in its first year of existence.
The Pilots have a five-set win against Lindsey Wilson, a team that was receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 poll.
LSUS’s four other wins have come via sweeps, including its first-ever match against Wayland Baptist (Aug. 21) and a non-conference meeting with RRAC member Louisiana Christian (dominated 25-18, 25-8, 25-14).
The Pilots measured themselves against pillars of the regional NAIA volleyball community this past weekend in losses to Mobile, Dillard, and Xavier, but LSUS pushed a 12-2 Mobile team to five sets, won one set against Dillard, and was competitive against Xavier.
“We proved that we don’t give up even if we’re down two sets,” Houlihan said. “The win against Lindsey Wilson was a reverse sweep (won last three sets after losing first two), and then we nearly had a reverse sweep against Mobile as well.
“We’re pushing competitive teams and making them work hard, and in turn we’re pushing ourselves to be better. We’re excited to open conference play, and we’re ready to go.”
Setter Farah Helmy won the first two RRAC Setter of the Week awards, and the Oral Roberts transfer has made a major impact as she leads the team in assists, digs, and hitting percentage.
Local Caitlin Clampitt (Evangel Christian) has been a key part of LSUS’s attack with 78 kills, second only to Logan Hamilton (88 kills).
LSUS’s decision to crank up college volleyball this year brings the scholarship version of the sport to Shreveport for the first time since Centenary moved to Division III starting in 2009.