GREENWOOD, SC – Lander University took advantage of three Francis Marion University misplays in the final few minutes of Friday's (Oct. 28) Peach Belt Conference volleyball match to claim a five-set victory, 17-25, 25-20, 26-24, 16-25, 15-12.
Francis Marion, which drops to 10-15 overall and 2-8 in the PBC, will continue its weekend road trip by visiting USC Aiken on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Senior Ashlee Crook led the Patriots with 16 kills, a career-high 31 digs, and four blocks. Senior Amanda Mitchell added 13 kills, while sophomore setter Nicole Bennett directed the FMU offense with 41 assists and helped out on defense by digging up 16 attacks. Sophomore outside hitter Paige Perreault registered nine kills and 18 digs and senior middleblocker Danielle Parker anchored the FMU frontline with nine blocks.
FMU freshman Meghan Peji recorded a career-high 20 digs.
Francis Marion easily won the opening set and dropped the next two before rallying with a 25-16 win in game four. In the fifth and final set, Lander never trailed. The Patriots pulled to within 11-10 but three errors by FMU helped the Bearcats claim the 15-12 victory.
Lander (13-13, 3-7) was led by Magi Nottingham and Jessica Register, both of whom tallied double-doubles. Nottingham had 10 kills and 15 digs, while Register totaled 40 assists and 21 digs. Hannah Dederick and Jordan Rix added 10 kills each for Lander, while Kiki Hennessey and Madison Kubal had 26 digs apiece.
Lander University def. Francis Marion Univ. 17-25,25-20,26-24,16-25,15-12
Francis Marion Univ. (10-15, 2-8 PBC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Crook,
Ashlee 16-0-4; Mitchell, Amanda 13-2-3; Perreault, Paige 9-0-0;
Mooney, Megan 8-1-2; Bennett, Nicole 4-1-0; Parker, Danielle 2-0-9;
Drewry, Liz 2-0-0; Legg, Hallie 0-3-0; Totals 54-7-10.0. (Assists) -
Bennett, Nicole 41. (Dig leaders) - Crook, Ashlee 31; Peji, Meghan 20;
Legg, Hallie 18; Perreault, Paige 18; Bennett, Nicole 16
Lander University (13-12, 3-7 PBC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Rix, Jordan
10-0-1; Dederick, Hannah 10-0-1; Nottingham, Magi 10-2-1; Davis,
Rebekah 9-0-1; Hennessey, Kiki 7-1-2; Register, Jessica 3-1-0; Slow,
Judith 1-0-0; Kubal, Madison 0-4-0; Totals 50-8-4.0. (Assists) -
Register, Jessica 40. (Dig leaders) - Kubal, Madison 26; Hennessey,
Kiki 26; Register, Jessica 21; Nottingham, Magi 15; Kraft, Katelyn 9
Site: Greenwood, S.C. (Horne Arena)
Date: Oct 28, 2011 Attend: 125 Time: 1:08
Referees: Buz Thompson, DJ Wiles
Liberos: Legg (FMU)
