FLORENCE, S.C. – Francis Marion University, which shared the Peach Belt Conference regular-season volleyball championship in 2006, enters the 2007 season with a mix of young and old, offense and defense.

The Patriots open their season Friday and Saturday (Aug. 24-25) at the Eckerd College Tournament in St. Petersburg, Fla. On Friday, FMU will play Davis & Elkins College at 2 p.m. and Lewis University at 4:30 p.m., while on Saturday, the Patriots will meet host Eckerd at 1 p.m. and Saint Leo University at 5 p.m.

The Patriots’ 34-match schedule includes five in-season tournaments and 12 home matches. FMU will host its invitational tournament, Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, with the team’s home opener being at 2 p.m. against Wayne State University on Aug. 31.

Second-year head coach Paul MacDonald welcomes back seven letterwinners, including four starters, from last year’s 26-8 squad that captured a share of the PBC crown, but lost in the semifinals of the PBC Tournament. In 2005, Francis Marion won the Peach Belt Tournament and advanced to the NCAA national tournament with 29 wins.

The Patriots have been tabbed to finish third according to the pre-season PBC coaches’ poll, trailing the other two squads (USC Aiken and Armstrong Atlantic State University) that shared the 2006 title. Junior setter Jenna Kaiser and seniors Jackie Phiel and Michelle Settergren represented FMU on the PBC’s 2007 pre-season All-Conference squad.

“Team chemistry will be one of our key ingredients this season,” MacDonald stated. “The way the team has jelled together has made for very focused practices, and I am looking forward to seeing how this will translate into positive results during the regular season.

“Our strength will again be on defense. Last year, we ranked 27th nationally in digs per game (19.68). This squad is as scrappy and should get to an equal number, if not more, of the balls that normally would fall. Offensively, we are led by setter Jenna Kaiser. In the preseason, she has generated our offense by her setting, hitting, and second-ball contact.” Kaiser was an All-Conference selection last year after leading the Peach Belt in assists at 10.86 per game, and was the 2005 PBC Freshman of the Year.

According to MacDonald, Phiel will again fill an all-around role, while Settergren moves from the middle to a right-side position. “Jackie will see the ball in all areas of the game, and should be one of the top all-around players in the conference. Michelle’s move allows us to utilize her blocking skills on the outside and it gives us a powerful hitter in that spot.” Phiel ranked third in the PBC in aces per game and 12th in digs per game last season and enters the 2007 season with over 1,200 career digs and 750 career kills. Settergren was second on the Patriots with 89 blocks a year ago, while hitting .209 with 1.84 kills per game. She was the 2004 PBC Freshman of the Year.

MacDonald pointed to junior hitter Jessica Lombardi and sophomore hitter Krissy Mordini as other keys to the Patriots’ offense. “Since last season, Jessica has upped her hitting skills and can now be classified as a go-to player who can terminate the ball (win points). Krissy has made great strides since the end of her freshman season, and will have a large impact on our success in 2007.” Lombardi was 14th in the PBC in 2006 with 2.64 kills per game, while hitting .165. Mordini averaged 1.59 kills per game and was a part-time starter.

Also returning are sophomore setter Jess O’Leary and sophomore defensive specialist Hannah Stilla.

The Patriot roster includes five freshmen: defensive specialists Karli Koralewski (5’6”) and Kelsie Deaton (5’6”), outside hitter Kaitlin Straiter (5’11”), and middlehitters Mallory Eggert (6’2”) and Emily Hill (6’). “Both Karli and Kelsie have played at a high level on the defensive side during the preseason,” MacDonald said. “With the loss of one of the nation’s top liberos (Jessica Strader), these two will aptly fill the roles of libero and back-row defense for us this year.   

“Mallory has improved her attacking skills during the preseason, and may challenge for a front-row blocking spot. She will only get better as she accumulates collegiate experience. Kaitlin is very talented and has shown improvements in the areas of serve receive, digging balls, and hitting. Emily has been rehabbing from an injury, and we look forward to her returning to the court. All five first-year players provide quality depth to our roster and will have a large say in the outcome of our season.”

“Our 2007 schedule is much more challenging. The in-season tournaments all include important region matches, which will have a huge impact on our ability to earn an NCAA Tournament invitation. The slate will also give our young players valuable experience before entering the Peach Belt conference schedule, which is the last third of the campaign.”

The Patriots must replace departed seniors Strader and Lezlie Logan, who finished their careers as the school’s all-time digs and kills leaders, respectively. Strader also ended her career fifth on the NCAA Division II all-time digs list with 2,248, while Logan is second on the PBC’s career kills list with 1,878.