SAVANNAH, GA – Twenty-first-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State University used late runs in the first two sets to fuel a sweep of Francis Marion University, 25-17, 25-13, 25-21, in a showdown for first place in the Peach Belt Conference volleyball standings, Saturday afternoon (Oct. 19) in Savannah, Ga.

Francis Marion drops to 14-3 overall and 8-2 in the PBC, while the Pirates remain unbeaten at 18-0 and 10-0.  The Patriots will step out of conference play to host Pfeiffer University on Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. in the program's annual Dig Pink match to raise funds for and awareness of breast cancer.

Junior Emily Sears led FMU with eight kills, while senior Jessica Imbimbo had five.  Junior libero Rebekah Davis dug up a team-high 14 balls, while senior setter Kailey Smith handed out 24 assists.

The first set was deadlocked at 11-11, before the Pirates ran off four straight points and went on to close with a 14-6 run.  Francis Marion trailed only 12-9 in set two, but the Pirates closed on a 13-4 spurt.  Armstrong held the Patriots to a negative hitting percentage through the opening two sets.

The third set featured nine ties in the early going, but again a 4-0 run by AASU gave the Pirates the lead for good.  The Patriots did close to within 23-21 on a kill by Imbimbo, but back-to-back kills by the Pirates finished the match.