FLORENCE, SC – The Francis Marion University volleyball program will begin the 2026 campaign on Friday (Aug. 28) at the Coker Cobra Classic with a matchup against Valdosta State University at 2 p.m. in nearby Hartsville, S.C.

The Patriots will play a 29-match schedule this fall, including two in-season tournaments, and will host 11 contests in the Smith University Center. The home opener will be on Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. against Young Harris College.

Admission to the University Center is $10 for adults and $5 for students, with FMU faculty, staff, and students being admitted free with identification. Additionally, kids under the age of five will also be admitted for free.

Following the season-opening three-match tournament at Coker, the Patriots will travel to the Sunshine State for the Tampa Volleyball Classic to compete in four scheduled matches in a highly competitive event. The following week, FMU starts Conference Carolinas play with a road contest at Ferrum College at 6:30 p.m.

Under the direction of 10th-year head coach Lauren Baufield-Edwards, Francis Marion returns 10 players, including seven individuals who saw significant playing time from last season's 21-10 squad that won the Conference Carolinas East Division.
The Patriots were tabbed second in the recently released Conference Carolinas Women's Volleyball Coaches' Preseason Poll for 2026.

Leading the returnees is the reigning Conference Carolinas Player of the Year, senior outside hitter Madilyn Gartner. She was an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America Team honorable mention and ranked 15th in NCAA Division II with 462 total kills in 2025, while tallying 219 digs, 48 blocks, and 16 aces. Additionally, Gartner was an Academic All-American and the league's Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

"She is consistent," expressed Baufield-Edwards regarding Gartner. "She is the same player that performed last year and shows up the same way, every single day as a leader."

Also among the returners is sophomore setter Aubrey Johnson, who led the team with 790 assists in her freshman season while also contributing 200 digs. The Patriots feel confident in their serve receive with the return of the senior trio of Allison Miller (340 digs), Kayla Clayworth (327 digs), and McKenna Wiseman (281 digs). FMU also expects graduate student middle blocker Vanessa Blake to step into her role at the net and provide game-changing moments.

"Aubrey (Johnson) did a fantastic job putting in work over the summer. She delivers better balls and is way more confident in her abilities, which helps her teammates feed off that energy, said Baufield-Edwards. Vanessa (Blake) has shown a lot of improvement, and her blocking will give us a lot of momentum in matches."

Baufield-Edwards mentioned that she planned an extremely challenging preseason to prepare her team for the start of the 2026 slate. "The team overall stepped up to that challenge and did some great things with that. We gave them hard practices, team bonding exercises, and expressed that they need to earn the respect of their opponents. It is going to be a fight."

The 2026 roster includes seven newcomers: one transfer (5-10 outside hitter Haleigh Kamer) and six freshmen (5-7 defensive specialist/Libero Alyssa Whiteside, 5-9 outside hitter Marlee Beckham, 5-7 setter/defensive specialist Gwen Stein, 5-11 outside hitter Gabby Humbles, 5-11 middle blocker Jaeda James, and 5-11 setter Ella Morstad.

The 2026 Conference Carolinas Women's Volleyball Championship is scheduled to start with the preliminary round on November 6 or 7 before the quarterfinals are played the following week on 10 or 11, both rounds occurring on campus sites. The semifinals and final will take place on November 14-15 at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court in Pembroke, N.C.