FLORENCE, SC – Despite another double-digit kill effort by senior Ashlee Crook, Francis Marion University fell in three sets (25-19, 25-14, 25-21) to Flagler College, Friday (Oct. 21) evening in Peach Belt Conference women's volleyball action.

The Patriots drop to 7-14 overall and 2-7 in the Peach Belt.  FMU returns to action on Saturday with a pair of non-conference matches at Lander University's Crossover Tournament in Greenwood, S.C.  The Patriots will play the College of Coastal Georgia at noon and St. Andrews University at 4 p.m.

Francis Marion will then return home to host local-rival Coker College on Tuesday at 7 p.m. for the program's annual Dig Pink Match to raise awareness of and funds for breast cancer.

On Friday, Crook registered a match-high 12 kills.  Senior libero Hallie Legg recorded 19 digs, while sophomore setter Nicole Bennett handed out 19 assists and served two aces.

Emilee Taylor and Crystal Niederriter paced the second-place Saints (17-6, 7-1) with 11 kills apiece.  Niederriter committed only two attack errors for a .500 attack percentage.  Setter Olivia Snipes dished out 34 assists and libero Casey Gnann dug up a match-high 30 balls.

In the opening set, FMU trailed only 18-17, but Flagler closed with a 7-2 run.  A 7-0 spurt early in set two was decisive for the Saints, and Flagler scored the final three points of set three after FMU had closed to within 22-21.