FLORENCE — The Francis Marion volleyball team will open its season on todaywhen the Patriots take part in the Carson-Newman College Tournament in Jefferson City, Tenn.
FMU will open with Lincoln Memorial University on Friday at 3 p.m. and will meet the host school at 7 p.m. On Saturday, the Patriots will play Lees-McRae College at noon and Davis & Elkins College at 4 p.m.
Fourth-year coach Paul MacDonald welcomes back nine of 12 letterwinners from last year’s 23-9 squad that tied for second during the Peach Belt Conference regular season, reached the final of the PBC Tournament, and advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament.
The Patriots were picked to finish third in this year’s PBC race according to the recent preseason coach poll. “The ladies are ready to play,” said MacDonald. “I say this not because they are tired of practicing, but because they feel they are properly prepared for the season to start. The opening weekend will be a good early barometer for how our season will go. We meet two NCAA tournament teams on the first day, and will get to see where we stand in the region almost immediately.”
The Patriots return two seniors, two juniors, and five sophomores. MacDonald has also added three freshmen: 6-2 middle blocker Casey Whitehead, 5-10 outside hitter Liz Drewry, and 5-9 setter Katie O’Connors.
Senior Jess O’Leary and sophomore Hallie Legg will be asked to replace Jenna Kaiser at the setter’s position. Kaiser ended her career ninth on the PBC list for assists with 3,972, and ranked 42nd nationally in assists per game in 2008. O’Leary set part-time in 2007 as a sophomore and averaged 8.8 assists per game, and spelled Kaiser a few times last year.
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