FMU Signs Five Volleyball Players

FLORENCE, S.C. -- Francis Marion University women's volleyball coach Paul MacDonald has announced the signing of five freshmen to national letters of intent to attend FMU this fall and play for the Patriots: defensive specialist Kelsie Deaton of Martinsville, Ind., middlehitter Mallory Eggert of Lake Elmo, Minn., middlehitter Emily Hill of Clio, Calif., defensive specialist Karli Koralewski of Muskego, Wis., and outside hitter Kaitlin Straiter of Gaithersburg, Md.

Deaton, 5-6, is a graduate of Martinsville High School, where she played for coach Roxanne Chapman. As a senior, she compiled 435 digs in 35 matches and recorded a serve receive percentage of 87 percent. She was an All-Conference selection, in addition to earning All-Metro West honors and receiving her team's Outstanding Defense Award.

As a junior, she helped her team to the 2005 Indiana 4A state title. Eggert, 6-2, is a product of Mahtomedi and Woodbury high schools, and has played for coaches Jill Holmstrom and Wally Bomgren. She earned All-Conference recognition this past year, and has twice been her team captain.

Hill, 6-0, played for coaches Debbie Thompson and Greg Hill at Aptos and Portola high schools. She was a three-time All-League selection and as a senior was named the Feather River League's Most Valuable Player.

Koralewski, 5-6, is a graduate of Thomas More High School, where she played under the direction of head coach Sarah Jaworski. A three-time All-Conference pick, she was named her conference's Player of the Year as a senior, while also earning first-team All-Academic honors.

She also played for the Milwaukee Sting club team, which finished fifth at the 2006 Junior Olympic Nationals and third at the 2005 nationals.

Straiter, 5-11, is a product of Gaithersburg High School, where she played for coach Michelle Dillingham. She earned first-team All-Gazette recognition each of the past two years, and was an honorable mention All-Met (Washington Post) pick as a sophomore and junior. She helped lead her school to an undefeated season in 2005 and the Maryland 4A state championship.

"This is a good recruiting class for FMU," said MacDonald. "I feel as though we have fortified both our front line and back-row defense.

"Kelsie has a great feel for service reception. She is a very balanced passer and she positions herself well to allow her to have great overall ball control. Her vocal abilities will add an extra intangible component to our court on a daily basis.

"Mallory comes to FMU with a great feel for blocking. She positions herself well to take advantage of her great length and reach. She can really challenge defenses with her quick attack and slide. Her attacking style will blend well with our current setting system.

"Emily does a great job positioning herself for successful blocking. Her block reach is high enough to be very effective, and with training she will get even higher. She does a great job hitting balls on both sides of the setter. This skill will force our opponents' blockers to defend the entire net when working against her.

"Karli is really the ultimate competitor. From a defensive standpoint, she brings an intense and hard-working attitude to the game. Her transition defense is spectacular and she is just as capable of digging an opponent's hardest attack as she is in her quickness to chase down tipped and block-touched balls.

"Kaitlin is just a very fun player to watch as she works on the court. She does a great job of attacking from the peak of her reach to avoid opposing blockers. Kaitlin brings a very balanced game to FMU. She is very well skilled both on offense as a deceptive attacker and strong server, as well as defensively in the backcourt and on the block."

Francis Marion returns seven players from last fall's 26-8 squad that shared the 2006 Peach Belt Conference regular-season crown and recorded the 10th highest win total in the program's 34-year history.