FLORENCE, S.C. – The Francis Marion University volleyball team enters the 2006 season led by a pair of decorated seniors and a first-year head coach. The team’s goals are to successfully defend their 2005 Peach Belt Conference Tournament crown and thus return to the NCAA Division II Tournament, and finish higher during the PBC regular season than last year’s second-place showing.

The Patriots open their season Friday and Saturday at the Glenville State College Pioneer Invitational in Glenville, W.V. On Friday, FMU will play St. Andrews Presbyterian College at noon

and the University of Bridgeport at 6 p.m., while on Saturday, the Patriots will meet Slippery Rock University at 9 a.m. and host Glenville State at 1 p.m.

The Patriots’ 32 match schedule includes four in-season tournaments and 10 home matches. FMU’s home opener will be Sept. 5 against NCAA Division I opponent Charleston Southern University at 7 p.m.  Francis Marion will serve as host for the 2006 PBC Tournament, set for Nov. 3-4.

New coach Paul MacDonald inherits six letterwinners, including four starters and the libero, from last year’s 29-11 squad that made the program’s second-ever NCAA national tournament appearance. The Patriots’ 29 victories was the fourth-highest win total in team history.

The Patriots have been tabbed to finish fourth according to the pre-season PBC coaches’ poll. That pick has served as extra motivation according to MacDonald. “The players are disappointed in their pre-season position, but it has added an extra fire to exceed those expectations and improve on last year’s regular-season finish and win that PBC crown.”

“The players have adjusted well to a new style, and have improved their speed in all facets of the game. As with all squads, we need consistency of play to win. In the preseason, we have been very impressive at times, but need to show a greater frequency of that to reach the goals we have set.”

Leading the returnees are senior middlehitter Lezlie Logan and senior libero Jessica Strader. Logan, a two-time All-Conference pick, owns 1,402 career kills, only 121 shy of the school record. Last year, she hit .224 and was third in the Peach Belt with 3.60 kills per game. She has compiled a school-record 81 matches with double-figure kills in 107 career appearances.

Strader, an honorable mention AVCA All-Region selection last year, enjoyed her second straight record-setting season in 2005. She set school and PBC season records for digs (709), breaking the marks she set in 2004, and also tied the FMU and PBC season records for most matches with at least 20 digs (17), also marks she established in 2004. She is already the FMU career leader in digs with 1,593, and only 160 shy of the PBC career mark. Strader also led Francis Marion and the Peach Belt with 80 service aces in 2005.

 MacDonald added, “One very key factor we have in our favor, is the senior leadership of a pair of four-year starters. Logan anchors the offensive hitting and blocking, while Strader anchors the defense.”

FMU returns PBC Freshman of the Year award winners from each of the past three seasons. Logan was the Co-Freshmen of the Year in 2003, while junior hitter Michelle Settergren was the 2004 pick and sophomore setter Jenna Kaiser was the selection last fall. Settergren compiled 255 kills and 76 total blocks last season, while Kaiser took over the setting duties early in the year and finished second in the conference with 10.23 assists per game.

“Michelle is the even-keel player on the roster, very focused and much improved in the quickness to her attack,” MacDonald said. “Jenna begins the season as our quarterback on the floor and should have a great year.”

Junior outside hitter Jackie Phiel and sophomore hitter Jessica Lombardi also return. Last fall, Phiel registered 390 digs, 166 kills, and 40 service aces, while Lombardi tallied 242 kills, 70 total blocks, and 25 aces. Both players started at least 26 matches in 2005.

“Jackie will play a large role this season in both passing and transition defense, while also seeing some time attacking at the net. Jessica Lombardi will have the role of replacing another Jessica, departed senior Jessica Bartlett, at the right-side hitting position. She has a nice arm swing, looks to block, and also plays well along the back row.”

MacDonald welcomes in five newcomers: 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 for a 22-12 VCU squad that advanced to the NCAA Division I Tournament. Good’s sister, Lauren, is a senior hitter on the Armstrong Atlantic State University squad.

“Allison may be our best pure attacker. She can be dominate at the net, possesses a nice jump serve, and has been a very positive influence on the squad during the preseason. Krissy will see some time along the front row, and I have been very impressed with her defensive skills during the preseason. Jess O’Leary will serve as our back-up setter, and has shown improvement just in the short time we have been in camp. Ashley and Hannah add depth along the frontline and on the back row respectively. Ashley has a good right side block that has pushed her teammates to work harder in practice.”