The Spring Hill College (SHC) volleyball team began its NCAA Division II and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) era with a bang in 2014 by building an impressive 26-7 overall record and an undefeated 17-0 mark in conference play. Head coach Peggy Martin enters her 7th season at Spring Hill with another strong line up for 2015. "Moving into our second year in the NCAA and the SIAC, I don't see us changing our strategies or tactics," she says. "We will compete at the same high level every time we take the court."

The Badger starting line will undergo some tweaks this season as Spring Hill lost four starting players, but Martin is confident that the players stepping into the roles will be ready for the challenge. "Our starting line-up is still evolving and could change weekly," she says. "But there is strong competition on the floor." Senior setter Mallory Raulerson from McGill-Toolen Catholic High School in Mobile has settled into the setter position while fellow senior Virginia Hicks of Salt Lake City, Utah, will be on the right side with sophomore Katelyn Bobinger from McGill-Toolen providing her relief.

In the middle, junior Savannah Becnel of Metairie, La., will share time with freshman Dorina Klinger of Frauental, Austria. The outside hitters are junior Madison Seuzeneau of from Tampa, Fla., and SIAC Preseason All-Conference selection junior Molly Griffin of Westlake Village, Calif. Sophomores Hannah Masoner of Camden, Tenn., and Randi De'Armitt of New Orleans, La., will both see significant playing time at the outside hitters, as well.

On defense, senior Abby Allard of Belleville, Ill., will be the first off the bench for back court duty and freshman libero Hailey Kirkpatrick from Slidell, La., and sophomore defensive specialist Morgan Murphy of Chicago, Ill., will look to collect their share of the Badger digs this season.

Martin has been pleased with her team's efforts in the early practices. "This team has worked very hard in the preseason and will get better with every practice and playing opportunity that they have," she says. "With two freshmen in the starting rotation the chemistry has been good - almost like they are veterans of the program."

Younger Badgers will also earn their stripes this year as sophomores outside hitter Julie Vujnovich of Belle Chasse, La., and defensive specialist Catherine Milwee out of St. Luke's Episcopal High School in Mobile are joined by a solid freshman class that includes setter Anna Tietjens of St. Louis, Mo., along with middle hitters Emily Greim of McKinney, Texas, and Destiny Marks from Diamondhead, Miss. Freshman Grace Herrington of Gainesville, Fla., will see time at setter and defensive specialist while freshman Caroline Herrera from Austin, Texas, will learn the college ropes at outside and right side hitter.

Long-time Badger fans will notice that Martin has stepped up the level of non-conference competition on the schedule this year with a tournament appearance at Rollins Collins in Orlando, Fla., and a tri-match against the University of West Georgia and the University of West Florida in Pensacola. "We are trying to play a tougher schedule every year of the transition into D2 to get to that level of competition," says Martin. "We need to be challenged to learn what the next level requires for success."

One of the challenges the Badgers will face over the next two seasons is the lack of postseason opportunities due to the limitations of the NCAA transition process. Martin says that her team cannot worry about that situation. "In general, I want some of our younger players to develop and challenge the juniors and seniors this year," she says. "Our goal is always to be the best team we can be regardless of championship eligibility."

The Badgers will open the 2015 season at the Rollins College Invitational in Orlando, Fla., on Friday at 9 a.m. versus Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) Penmen. The SNHU volleyball team posted the second-highest win total in program history with a 17-11 overall mark in 2014 and qualified for its first Northeast-10 Conference Tournament since 2003. At 1 p.m., SHC will face the Northern State (S.D.) Wolves who finished 2014 with a 19-10 mark. Friday will be the first meeting between Spring Hill and either of the other programs.