HARROGATE, Tenn. – For the first time since 2007, the Lady Railsplitters will play their season opener at Mary Mars Gymnasium, and in thrilling fashion to boot. The 2017 campaign will commence on Friday morning with the start of the two-day LMU Volleyball Tournament, which will feature six teams and 10 region showdowns over a 48-hour period.
 
The Basics
 
Friday, September 1 vs. Lee – 10 am
Live Stats
Video
 
Friday, September 1 vs. King – 8 pm
Live Stats
Video
 
Saturday, September 2 vs. Erskine – 4:30 pm
Live Stats
Video
 
Quick Hits
 
- The Lady Railsplitters completed the 2016 campaign with a single-season program record 25 wins, finished as the South Atlantic Conference regular-season runners-up, appeared in the SAC Championship title match and ended a three-year NCAA Tournament drought. Lincoln Memorial was selected to repeat as the SAC runners-up in the league's preseason coaches poll, which was released on Tuesday.
 
- Lincoln Memorial returns a load of talent from the 2016 team, including preseason All-SAC selections Samantha Cash, Kiera Holland and Tone Gill, who each finished among the top four on the team in total kills a year ago. The Lady Railsplitters also bring back outside hitter Lindsey Nartker, middle blocker Danielle Ged, libero Erica Whiteaker and defensive specialist Peyton McDaniel, who each appeared in at least 22 matches last season.
 
- Despite all of the answers provided by the returning talent, the Lady Railsplitters have one significant question looming: who is replacing All-Southeast Region setter Abby Cash?  Cash ended her four-year tenure in the Blue and Gray ranked second in program history with 4,106 career assist, while her 8.66 assists per set is ranked fourth in the program's career history. Samantha Cash, University of Mount Olive transfer Danielle Stachura and freshman Olivia Brock are expected to contend for that spot.
 
- For the first time in a decade, the Lady Railsplitters are making their season debut within the friendly confines of Mary Mars Gymnasium. Furthermore, this marks just the second time since the start of the 2013 campaign that Lincoln Memorial is playing its season opener in the state of Tennessee.
 
- The Lady Railsplitters will be looking to win their season-opening match for the first time since the 2010 team cruised past Virginia State in straight sets. Lincoln Memorial has dropped its last four season openers in straight sets, including a 3-0 loss to Shorter last season. However, the Lady Railsplitters followed up that loss by reeling off eight straight wins.
 
- A comprehensive preview of the 2017 campaign is available here.
 
Know the Opponents
 
- Lee finished an even 15-15 last season, including a 10-10 mark in Gulf South Conference play, which was good for a fifth place finish. The Flames were predicted to take a slight step back this season, as the GSC coaches voted Lee sixth in the preseason poll.
 
- Junior outside hitter Silvia Sartori is expected to anchor the Lee offensive attack this season, as the two-time All-GSC selection compiled 305 kills to go along with 282 digs last season. Sartori will be joined by junior libero Mckayla Beebe and senior outsider hitter Brooke Wilsman. Beebe led the GSC in digs per set last season, while Wilsman breached the 200-kill mark for the third year in a row.
 
- King compiled a 13-15 overall record last season, but went 11-5 in Conference Carolinas play to finish third in the north division. The Tornado ended their season with a five-set loss to Barton in the semifinals of the Conference Carolinas Tournament. King was picked fourth in the league's preseason coaches poll and received two of a possible 10 first-place votes.
 
- The Tornado return three All-Conference Carolinas selections in right side Becca Huddleston, outside hitter Cathy Scaniffe and libero Amy Serowski. Huddleson – the 2016 Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year – logged 242 kills and 292 digs last season, while Scaniffe ranked third in the league with 335 kills. Serowski accumulated 460 digs a season ago to earn a spot on the third team.
 
- Erskine went 19-10 overall and 14-2 in Conference Carolinas play last season to earn the south division crown, but the Flying Fleet graduated seven seniors off of the 2016 squad, including the top five leaders in kills, the leader in digs and the leader in assists. Due to that deluge of departures, the Fleet were picked fifth in the Conference Carolinas preseason poll.
 
- Erskine will be breaking in a slew of unfamiliar or unproven players this weekend, as the roster features 11 freshmen, five sophomores, one junior and just two seniors. The Fleet do have a lot of size, though, as eight players are listed at 5-10 or taller.
 
Head-to-Head
 
- The Lady Railsplitters have played Lee seven times in program history, and the Flames have controlled the all-time series to the tune of a 5-2 mark. Lincoln Memorial hasn't beaten Lee in the last five tries, but the two teams have not played one another in 23 years, a 3-1 win for the Flames in 1994.
 
- Lincoln Memorial is 7-1 all-time against King and hasn't lost to the Tornado since the 1997 season, reeling off six straight wins in the series since that last loss. The Lady Railsplitters handled King in straight sets in the season-opening weekend of the 2016 campaign. Holland led the way with 10 kills.
 
- The Lady Railsplitters are 2-0 against Erskine, as the two programs are colliding for the third consecutive season. Lincoln Memorial beat the Flying Fleet 3-1 last season and 3-0 in 2015.