Warrensburg, Mo. (Aug. 21, 2000) -- Starting their 25th volleyball season under the guidance of head coach Peggy Martin, the Central Missouri State University Jennies open the 2000 campaign with four matches this weekend (Aug. 25-26) at the University of Central Oklahoma Sleep Inn Invitational in Edmond.

Ranked 18th in the AVCA Division II Coaches' Preseason Top 25 poll, the Jennies open the campaign on Friday against St. Edward's University of Texas at 1 p.m., then face host Central Oklahoma at 7 p.m. On Saturday they meet Texas A&M University-Kingsville at noon and Southern Arkansas University at 4 p.m.

The contests with St. Edward's, Texas A&M-Kingsville and Southern Arkansas will be the Jennies' first against those schools. They have won all five previous meetings with Central Oklahoma, the last coming in 1995.

NCAA Division II's winningest coach with 815 career victories, Martin has four starters back from last year's 27-8 team that won an unprecedented 18th straight Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association title and made a 17th straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

The Jennies' returning starters are senior outside hitters Mandy Feldmann and Rhea Griffin, junior setter Robyn Griffin, who is Rhea's younger sister, and junior middle hitter Janell Mohme. Robyn Griffin was all-region and a first-team all-MIAA selection last season, while Rhea Griffin was a second-team all-league choice and Mohme earned honorable-mention all-conference honors.

Also returning is senior defensive specialist Katie Grusing, while sophomores Jacque Barr and Anna Patterson have at least a year's experience in the Jennies' system and should see increased playing time this season. New to the Jennies' lineup will be red-shirt freshman Natalie Loerch and middle hitter Trudy Carter, a 6' 2" freshman.

The big question facing this year's squad is filling the gap left by the graduation of All-American Daria McConnell, who led the team in virtually every offensive category last season, including a school-record 692 kills.