UMO women's volleyball, women's soccer tabbed 8th in respective preseason coaches polls

By UMO Media Relations
Published in Sports on August 20, 2015 1:48 PM

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UMO Media Relations

MOUNT OLIVE -- Directed by second-year head coach -- and alumna Colby Mangum -- the University of Mount Olive women's volleyball team has been picked eighth overall in the 2015 Conference Carolinas preseason coaches poll released Wednesday.

The Trojans received 30 points -- one behind seventh-place North Greenville. Reigning CC champion Erskine (S.C.) collected 79 points and seven of 10 first-place votes cast by the league's coaches.

UMO returns four of its top five kill leaders -- Britni Johnson (263 kills), Montgomery Register (199), Sarah Watkins (139) and Alysha Burnett (122). Also back is starting setter Nicole Karas, who missed the entire 2014 season with an injury.

Mangum's club opens the season Sept. 4 against Peach Belt Conference member GRU Augusta at the two-day Queens University of Charlotte Invitational. One week later, the Trojans travel to Francis Marion (S.C.) University.

Mount Olive's home opener is Sept. 15 against in-state rival Shaw University.

Women's soccer

MOUNT OLIVE -- University of Mount Olive has been picked eighth overall in the 2015 Conference Carolinas women's soccer preseason coaches poll released Tuesday.

The Trojans collected 29 points -- 13 ahead of ninth-place North Greenville and 19 points ahead of 10th-place Erskine.

Mount Olive returns 10 full- or part-time starters from last year's injury-plagued team, which finished 6-12-1 overall and 4-6-1 against conference opposition. Six of the Trojans' contests were decided by one goal.

UMO alum Reid Clewis is the new head coach after spending eight of the nine last seasons in an assistant role.

The Trojans launch their 2015 campaign at home Sept. 4 against Peach Belt Conference member North Georgia in the UMO Kickoff Classic. The four-team field includes Barton and Goldey-Beacom (Del.).