JACKSON - With preseason coming to a close and fall classes underway as of Tuesday, Millsaps will head to Mobile, Ala., for its first competition of the 2007 season, facing off with Martin Methodist, Dillard University and tournament-host Spring Hill College this weekend.

The Majors will shoot for their first set of back-to-back season-opening wins since the 1997 and 1998 seasons, when they defeated Jackson State and Belhaven College 3-0. Those seasons they finished at 23-7 and 26-9 overall.

This year marks the ninth-straight year that Millsaps has opened on the road.

Only three starters return from last year's squad, led by senior middle blocker Ani Babinski. Sophomores Toni Manley and Dixie Krauss also return to the starting lineup, while junior Sarah Exley and freshmen Hailey Miranda, Heather Keenan and Kate Hall will step on the court early.

The Majors will open with Spring Hill at 5 p.m. on Friday before facing off with Martin Methodist at 9 a.m. and Dillard University at 1 p.m. on Saturday to close the weekend.

Millsaps' home-opener is Tuesday, Sept. 4 against cross-street rival Belhaven College.