2017 NCAA Championship

The 2017 season was one for the record books as the LSU beach volleyball team put together it’s best season in the four-year history of the program, setting the standard for the future and earning a place in the national spotlight.

After improving its win total each of the previous three years, LSU entered the season ranked for the first time in the preseason, coming in at No. 10 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association beach poll and No. 9 in the DiG Magazine rankings. Senior Katie Lindelow and junior Mandi Orellana were also voted to the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association Preseason All-Conference teams.

Despite dropping five of their first seven matches to open the season, the Tigers bounced back in a huge way, rattling off 23-straight wins to mark the third longest streak in LSU athletics history. During that span, LSU picked up eight wins over ranked opponents, including five victories against top-10 competition.

The Tigers advanced to the semifinals of the CCSA Conference Championships, falling to Florida International to snap their winning streak.

LSU was seeded seventh by the selection committee at the NCAA Championships in Gulf Shores, Alabama, marking the program’s first-ever berth in the tournament. The Tigers finished the championships with a 1-2 record, picking up the school’s first-ever victory against No. 6 seed Long Beach State by a score of 3-2. With the win, LSU joined Florida State as one of just two teams from the East region to win a match at NCAA’s.

The Tigers concluded the season achieving their highest ranking in the polls, coming in at No. 6 in the standings of both the AVCA and DiG Magazine rankings. LSU also maintained a perfect record on it’s home turf and claimed four of its five away matches.

Head coach Russell Brock was named the CCSA Coach of the Year and the VolleyballMag.com Coach of the Year after helping to propel the Tigers to new heights, guiding them to the best record in program history and the school’s first appearance at NCAA’s.

In just their first collegiate season, Coppola and Nuss were also voted to the second team VBM All-American squad for their efforts to wrap up the historic year for the program.

#2 UCLA def. #7 LSU, 3-0 1.(UCLA) Nicole McNamara and Megan McNamara def. (LSU) Claire Coppola and Kristen Nuss (18-21, 21-11, 15-10) 2. (UCLA)Kamila Tan and Madi Yeomans def. (LSU) Emmy Allen and Maddie Ligon (21-19, 17-21, 15-10) 3. (UCLA) Lily Justine and Savvy Simo def. (LSU) Megan Davenport and Riley Young (21-18, 21-16)

#7 LSU def. #6 LBSU, 3-2 1. (LSU) Claire Coppola/Kristen Nuss def. (LBSU) Nele Barber/Rachel Nieto (21-17, 18-21, 16-14) 2. (LBSU) Anete Brinke/Hailey Harward def. (LSU) Emmy Allen/Maddie Ligon (21-15, 21-18) 3. (LSU) Katie Lindelow/Olivia Powers def. (LBSU) Sasha Karelov/Kobi Pekich (14-21, 21-19, 17-15) 4. (LBSU) Morea Wagner/Heather Weiss def. (LSU) Cati Leak/Callan Molle (21-10, 17-21, 15-13) 5. (LSU) Megan Davenport/Riley Young def. (LBSU) Jenelle Hudson/Megan Kruidhof (21-18, 21-18)

#5 Hawaii def. #7 LSU, 3-0 2. Ka’iwi Schucht/Nikki Taylor (UH) def. Emmy Allen/Maddie Ligon (LSU) | 21-15, 21-13 | HAWAII WIN 3. Emily Maglio/Laurel Weaver (UH) def. Olivia Powers/Katie Lindelow (LSU) | 21-16, 21-12 | HAWAII WIN 4. Ari Homayun/Carly Kan (UH) def. Cati Leak/Callan Molle (LSU) | 21-12, 21-13 | HAWAII WIN