FLORENCE, SC – Junior hitter Paige Perreault recorded a pair of double-figure kill matches as Francis Marion University split a pair of matches on Friday (Aug. 31), the opening day of the annual FMU Invitational Volleyball Tournament.

FMU (1-1) lost a four-set decision to Newberry College in the afternoon (17-25, 18-25, 25-15, 24-26) and then came back to claim a sweep of Pfeiffer University in the nightcap (25-14, 25-14, 25-23).

In the loss to Newberry (2-0), senior Liz Drewry and Perreault led FMU with 10 kills apiece.  Setters Kailey Smith and Sloane Shank accounted for 16 and 11 assists respectively, while sophomore libero Meghan Peji posted a career-high 23 digs.  Junior middle blocker Megan Mooney recorded six blocks and three service aces, while Drewey added four blocks.

In the victory over Pfeiffer (0-2), Perreault pounded out 10 kills and Drewey and junior Jessica Imbimbo nine apiece.  Drewry served four aces and rallied FMU from a late 23-21 deficit in set three.

Smith (20) and Shank (11) accounted for a combined 31 assists, and Peji dug up 15 balls.  Mooney added seven kills and a team-high five blocks.

The Patriots were energized by a lively night-time Smith University Center crowd that did the wave in regular fashion and in slow-motion.

In other Friday action, Newberry defeated Mount Olive 25-17, 25-14, 25-21; Mars Hill beat Pfeiffer 25-23, 25-21, 25-20; Mount Olive downed USC Aiken 20-25, 25-22, 25-23, 15-25, 15-13; and USC Aiken defeated Mars Hill 25-23, 25-20, 21-25, 23-25, 15-11.

In Saturday's action, Mars Hill plays Mount Olive at 9 a.m.; Pfeiffer meets USC Aiken at 11 a.m.; FMU plays Mount Olive at 1 p.m.; Newberry plays USC Aiken at 3 p.m.; FMU meets Mars Hill at 5 p.m.; and Newberry plays Pfeiffer at 7 p.m.