COLUMBUS, Ohio - LSU libero Meghan Mannari came away with a silver medal as part of the USA National A2 Gold Team held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center as part of the USA Volleyball Girls' Junior National Championships.

Mannari was one of 48 players which included only eight liberos invited to participate in the program. Her USA Gold Team went 2-1 during pool play and advanced to the championship match with a dramatic five-set comeback victory. However, her squad fell in three tightly contested sets decided by a total of eight points in the gold medal match.

It marked the fifth consecutive season that LSU has won a medal with the prestigious USA A2 program. Former All-Americans Brittnee Cooper and Elena Martinez won gold in 2008, while Cooper picked up a silver medal in 2009. Former assistant coach Steven Loeswick added a bronze medal in 2010 followed by head coach Fran Flory's gold medal in 2011.

Mannari garnered All-SEC Second-Team and AVCA All-South Region Honorable Mention status. She sparked LSU's back row defense and amassed 518 digs at a 4.67 per set average to rank second in the SEC. The 518 digs also were the third-highest total for a single season in LSU history. The Frisco, Texas, native will head into her senior campaign 187 digs away from becoming the 12th player in program history to reach the 1,000 career digs plateau.

LSU has strung together seven consecutive SEC Western Division titles highlighted by the overall league championship in 2009. It's the second longest streak in SEC history, only behind Florida's 14-year run on top of the SEC's Eastern Division from 1995-2008.

The Tigers have garnered a 159-55 record, secured six NCAA Tournament appearances and notched 24 All-SEC selections since 2005.

USA A2 Gold
Jersey - (School, Position, Height, Hometown)
3 - Mary Pollmiller (Tennessee, S, 5-10, Littleton, Colo.)
5 - Ashley Mason (Missouri State, L, 5-8, Granby, Mo.)
9 - Lauren Wicinski (Michigan State, OH, 6-2, Geneva, Ill.)
14 - Tara Dunn (Oklahoma, OH, 6-2, Poth, Texas)
21 - Rachel Krabacher (Dayton, OH, 6-4, Cincinnati, Ohio)
31 - Kaitlyn Early (Illinois State, S, 5-9, Wildwood, Mo.)
37 - Tenisha Matlock (Iowa State, MB, 6-2, North Platte, Neb.)
40 - Chaniel Nelson (North Carolina, OPP, 6-2, Huntersville, N.C.)
42 - Tori Dixon (Minnesota, OPP, 6-4, Burnsville, Minn.)
43 - Meghan Mannari (LSU, L, 5-9, Frisco, Texas)
44 - Samantha Cash (Pepperdine, MB, 6-3, San Diego, Calif.)
47 - Haley Cameron (Santa Clara, MB, 6-3, LaJolla, Calif.)

Coaches: Tonya Johnson (Georgia Tech) and Jeff Stork (Cal State Northridge)