AUGUSTA, GA -- Francis Marion University, under the direction of first-year head coach Paul MacDonald, has been picked to finish fourth in the race for the 2006 Peach Belt Conference volleyball title, according to the league’s annual preseason coaches' poll released on Wednesday.
Armstrong Atlantic State University, last year's regular-season champion, has been tabbed as the preseason favorite. FMU won last year's tournament crown.
AASU received four of a possible six first-place votes and compiled 34 points, followed by USC Upstate (30), USC Aiken (26), FMU (21), Lander University (15), UNC Pembroke (11), and Augusta State University (10).
MacDonald, one of two new coaches in the Peach Belt, welcomes back six letterwinners from last year's 29-11 squad that placed second during the PBC regular season and advanced to the NCAA Division II national tournament. Four starters return, in addition to honorable mention All-Region libero Jessica Strader. For the second straight year, Strader set school and Peach Belt season records for digs (709). She also served a conference-high 80 service aces last year, and was named the most valuable player at the PBC Tournament.
Along the frontline, two-time All-PBC performer Lezlie Logan is back for her senior season. With 1,402 career kills, Logan is only 121 kills shy of the Patriot career record in that category.
The Patriots also return each of the past two Peach Belt Conference “Freshman of the Year”: junior outside hitter Michelle Settergren (.202 hitting percentage in 2005) and sophomore setter Jenna Kaiser (10.23 assists per game in 2005). Logan was the Co-Freshman of the Year in 2003.
Five newcomers join the roster: sophomore Allison Good, and freshmen Krissy Mordini, Ashley Lasher, Jess O’Leary, and Hannah Stilla. Good played her freshman year at Virginia Commonwealth University, appearing in 33 games and registering 1.15 kills and 0.27 blocks per game as VCU advanced to the NCAA Division I Tournament.
FMU will open its season, Aug. 25-26 at the Glenville State College Invitational Tournament in Glenville, W.V. Francis Marion will host the 2006 Peach Belt Tournament, Nov. 3-4.
Coaches were not allowed to rank their own teams in the preseason poll.
Peach Belt Conference Volleyball
2006 Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Armstrong Atlantic State 34
2. USC Upstate 30
3. USC Aiken 26
4. Francis Marion 21
5. Lander 15
6. UNC Pembroke 11
7. Augusta State 10
No. School Total
