HARROGATE, Tenn. – A lot has changed for the Lincoln Memorial University women's volleyball team since the banner 2016 season ended, but a lot has remained the same. The ceiling for the 2017 season will hinge largely on how the new and the old come together.
 
2016 Season Rewind
 
In 2016, the Lady Railsplitters authored one of the most successful season in program history. Lincoln Memorial surpassed the 1998, 1999 and 2000 teams for the program's single-season record for wins with 25, ended a three-year NCAA Tournament drought, won a program-record 17 South Atlantic Conference matches and returned to the SAC Championship title game for the first time since 2008. The Lady Railsplitters also finished as the regular-season SAC runners-up.
 
After dropping the first match of the season in straight sets to Shorter, the Lady Railsplitters reeled off eight consecutive wins, including a 5-0 start to SAC play. Wingate snapped the Lady Railsplitters' eight-game winning streak before the team bounced back with another eight-game winning streak to move to an impressive 16-2.
 
The Lady Railsplitters carried that momentum throughout the month of October, ending a 21-game losing streak to Wingate with a thrilling 3-2 win at Mary Mars Gymnasium on October 28. Heading into the last four SAC matches of the regular season, Lincoln Memorial was in position to clinch the first regular-season conference title in program history, but lost three of those four games to ultimately settle for second place.
 
The Lady Railsplitters briefly rediscovered their form in the SAC tournament, beating Lenoir-Rhyne and Newberry in succession to advance to the SAC title game. However, Wingate cruised in a straight-set victory. Lincoln Memorial earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament despite that loss, but was once again handled in straight sets by Armstrong State to end the historic 2016 season with a 25-9 record.
 
Key Departures
 
The Lady Railsplitters graduated five players representing every position on the court off of last season's team, losing setter Abby Cash, outside hitter Liz Brock, middle block Jamie Jehne, right side Brooke Fleeman and defensive specialist Bristol Snider.
 
Of that group, Cash is unquestionably the most significant. In her four seasons at Lincoln Memorial, Cash appeared in 124 matches, logging the second-most assists in program history while also ranking fourth in program history in assists per set and sixth in total digs. While serving as the undisputed vocal leader, Cash ended her senior season as an All-SAC and All-Southeast Region selection.
 
"There's no way to replace Abby Cash and what she has been for the program," said head coach Jenny Michael, who is entering her seventh season at Lincoln Memorial. "There's no one person who can replace her. One of the questions that we are trying to find an answer to is how do we replace that position."
 
Brock also played a vital role in the team's success last season, ranking third on the team in kills (301) and kills per set (2.53) while earning All-SAC honorable mention accolades.
 
Key Returners
 
Offensively, the Lady Railsplitters return five of their top eight players in terms of total kills, including All-SAC selections Samantha Cash and Kiera Holland.
 
Cash - a junior right side hitter - was also an All-Southeast Region pick after leading the team in kills with 361 on a .299 attack percentage. The New Carlisle, Ohio native ranked ninth in the league in kills per set and fourth in attack percentage. A three-time All-SAC selection, Holland finished sixth in the SAC in kills with 353 and eighth in kills per set with a team-high 2.94. That duo also combined for over three digs per frame.
 
"Kiera is really hungry to help lead this team successfully with her abilities on the outside," Michael said of Holland, one of three seniors on the team. "I look forward to her having a really big year from start to finish."
 
That offensive group will also benefit from the return of middle blockers Tone Gill and Danielle Ged and outside hitter Lindsey Nartker.
 
Gill posted 171 kills and an average of 1.54 per set while ranking among the top three in the South Atlantic Conference in total blocks (114), solo blocks (20) and block assists (94). Ged amassed 1.33 kills per set despite missing 12 matches due to injury, while Nartker compiled 81 kills and 2.12 digs per set as a freshman.
 
"We are looking for those three to have a pretty big year," said Michael.
 
Senior middle hitter Kayla Kidney and sophomore outside Kaylee Stone will provide even further depth at those attacking positions after a season in Lincoln Memorial's system.
 
Behind those attacking players, the Lady Railsplitters welcome back libero Erica Whiteaker for her junior season in the Blue and Gray. Despite missing eight games due to injury, the Kingston Springs, Tenn. native produced the 11th-most digs in the SAC last season and the eighth-most digs per set with 4.82. She also finished third on the team with 29 aces. In addition to her on-court success, Whiteaker was the Elite 18 winner at the SAC Volleyball Championship for posting the highest GPA among the four teams represented in the semifinals.
 
Senior defensive specialist Peyton McDaniel will provide another veteran presence on that side of the ball after making 26 appearances last season.
 
Newcomers
 
The Lady Railsplitters will have nine new athletes contending for playing time this season at virtually every position.
 
Lincoln Memorial bolstered its defense with the addition of freshmen Sarah Jones and Hailey Lake while bringing in freshmen Sidney Killingsworth and Alicia Kessler to provide some depth at both the middle hitter and right side positions. Junior college transfers Rylee Storms and Kai Wesemann will add to an already potent offensive attack, while University of Mount Olive transfer Danielle Stachura and freshman Olivia Brock are two of the three players competing for the starting setting position.
 
Storms should make an immediate impact for the Lady Railsplitters this season, as the right side helped lead Grand Rapids Community College to a 28-8 record last season by racking up 451 kills and 3.42 per set on a .251 attack percentage. Wesemann is also coming off of a productive season at Johnson County Community College, where she compiled 292 kills and 2.09 kills per set in 2016.
 
Jones will likely play a significant role for the Lady Railsplitters defensively, as she shattered the Riverdale High School career record for digs in her final prep season.
 
Season Outlook
 
The Lady Railsplitters enter the 2017 season in a unique position. Lincoln Memorial returns seven players that appeared in at least 22 matches during the historic 2016 campaign, including three of the top four attackers and its starting libero. However, the Lady Railsplitters also have nearly as many newcomers that are acclimating to the system.  
 
"We are all still figuring it out – figuring out roles, how we fit in, places on the court, positions and leadership," said Michael. "That's part of it, though. We've been able to have several practices. They haven't all gone well, but we are seeing a lot of good things."
 
The outcome of the season will likely hinge on how things shake out at the setter position, where the Lady Railsplitters are tasked with replacing one of the very best at that position in program history. With a deep and talented pool of players at every other position, the sky is the limit if the setter position is stabilized sooner rather than later.
 
"Right now I feel good about where our defense is at. They are really scrappy, bring a lot of energy and are keeping a lot of rallies going in practice. We have some firepower returning offensively and were able to add a few pieces and parts to that as well," Michael said. "We have people that can keep the ball off the floor and people that can put it down on the other side, but we are struggling to consistently get the ball to our hitters in a good location."
 
Samantha Cash is the other player in the mix for the starting setter, which could make things interesting if she is required to take on that role for the Lady Railsplitters, who would lose her production as hitter.
 
Despite that unsettled role, Lincoln Memorial is well positioned to build off of last year's success with a veteran core that is equal parts hungry, humble and confident in the wake of the 2016 campaign paired with a talented flock of newcomers.   
 
"I think it's very important for us to appreciate what happened last year, but to realize that this is a new year with a new team and a new dynamic," said Michael. "We need to approach that accordingly and take every day as an opportunity to learn, grow and get better. If we can come in every day with a purpose, focus on that purpose and continue to get better, the end result will take care of itself."
 
The Lady Railsplitters open the season by hosting the LMU Volleyball Tournament September 1-2 at Mary Mars Gym, facing Lee and King on Friday before ending the weekend against Erskine on Saturday. Lincoln Memorial then begins the grueling SAC schedule with a five-game road trip September 7-19.  
 
"I'm excited. We do have question marks, but I'm excited to see how those question marks develop, how they pan out and who's willing to put in the work," said Michael. "I'm just excited for this journey with these ladies."