The Sandhills Community College volleyball team, ranked sixth in the nation in a preseason poll, has opened its season with one win and one loss.

The Flyers dropped a 3-1 decision at Wake Tech Wednesday. The two teams split the first two games, but Wake took the final two games by 25-23 and 25-16 to claim the win.

Sophomores Sara Randall, with 11 kills, and Janie Bounds, with 10, led the offense. Freshmen Cierra Collins had 18 assists and Marymegan Farley 10 assists for the Flyers. Fellow freshman Morgan Chavis paced the defense with 21 digs.

Sandhills opened its 2012 campaign with a 3-1 victory over Johnson & Wales University at the Dempsey Center on Aug. 23. After dropping a 25-22 decision in the first game, the Flyers reeled off three straight, 25-16, 25-22, 25-22 for the win.

Bounds was a force in the middle for the Flyers, recording three blocks and 10 kills, while Randall posted 19 digs, eight kills and an ace to pace the Flyers.

Several first-year players made memorable collegiate debuts as Purnell Swett graduates Erin Kenworthy tallied 17 digs, 10 kills and three aces, Chavis added 20 digs and an ace, Cierra Collins contributed 12 digs and served up four aces, and Farley chipped in with 15 digs and two kills in her debut.

Team Outlook

Fresh off a strong 17-9 season and Region X runner-up finish Sandhills can claim the largest recruiting class in the five-year history of the program. In all 13 players will make up the 2012-13 edition of the Flyers, including nine newcomers.

The three returning players figure to lead the way for SCC. Bounds returns after a solid freshman campaign totaling 174 kills and 57 blocks. Sophomore McKenzie White returns after garnering 26 aces and 137 digs in 2011. The Flyers expect Randall to play a pivotal role for the Flyers both on and off the court.

Among the newcomers include three Purnell Swett products in Chavis, Collins and Erin Kenworthy, and two Union Pines alums in Maggie Trout and Catherine Monroe.

Farley, Khadija Carpenter, Holly Eatmon and Takiah Butler round out the new additions.

Coach Alicia Hill enters her fourth season at the helm for Sandhills with a career mark of 46-27 and an impressive record of 39-17 over the previous two seasons.

After leading the Flyers to an NJCAA seventh-place finish in 2010, Hill collected both Region X and District H coach of the year honors. Sandhills opened the 2012 season ranked in the NJCAA national poll for the first time. They are ranked sixth in the opening poll.