KANSAS CITY, MO – The Francis Marion University women's soccer team is among the other schools receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II Top 25 preseason rankings.

Head coach Sam Holmes welcomes back 24 returnees, including 10 starters, from last season's 17-3-0 squad that captured the Conference Carolinas East Division championship, earned the No. 1 overall seed in the Conference Carolinas Tournament, and made the program's fourth-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. Additionally, the Patriots were featured in the United Soccer Coaches poll during the final eight weeks of the 2025 season, climbing as high as No. 17.

Among the returnees are a trio of All-Americans in graduate student Tehya Dave', senior goalkeeper Erin Grabeel, and junior defender Alana Hunt. Dave' is the reigning Conference Carolinas Offensive Player of the Year after racking-up 34 points (13 goals, 8 assists), which ranked 12th in NCAA Division II. Hunt anchored the defensive backline for the Patriots that led the country with a .750 shutout percentage, while also being named the 2025 Conference Carolinas Defensive Player of the Year. Grabeel ranked third in the nation with 14 shutouts in 2025 and posted the sixth-longest shutout streak in NCAA Division II women's soccer history.

Additionally, Francis Marion welcomes back All-Region senior defender Joy Brockmann and sophomore midfielder Madeline Ballard.

The Patriots will open their 17-match schedule with an Aug. 27 home contest against USC Aiken, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. at Hartzler Field.

Two opponents FMU will face this season were also included in the preseason rankings: Lenoir-Rhyne University (ranked 8th) and Catawba College (ranked 13th).

Holmes owns a .718 winning percentage in two seasons with the Patriots, and his career mark stands at 109-39-12 with five NCAA Tournament berths.