Florence, S.C. (Oct. 4, 2013) – Emily Sears registered a match-high 13 kills and the Francis Marion University volleyball team cruised to its eighth straight victory with a 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-17) sweep of GRU Augusta, Friday night in the Smith University Center.

FMU improves to 10-1 overall this season, the best season start since 1998. The Patriots share the top spot in the Peach Belt Conference standings with a 5-0 record.

The Patriots return to the court Saturday afternoon (Oct. 5) as they play host to Georgia College. First serve is set for 2 p.m.

Sears hit .393 with only two errors in 28 total attacks. Senior Jessica Imbimbo added eight kills and team-high nine digs, while senior Megan Mooney chipped in seven kills and three service aces. Senior Kailey Smith finished with a match-high 34 assists and two service aces.

GRU Augusta (2-12, 0-7 PBC) was paced by Kristen Koch who finished with eight kills and eight digs. Jenna Keeler added eight kills.

The Patriots led the first set wire-to-wire and used an 8-0 run late in the set to earn a 25-17 victory. After rolling to a 25-18 victory in set two, FMU used a 7-0 early spurt in the third set and never let the Lady Jaguars get closer than three points from the lead before taking the final set 25-17. 

Francis Marion Univ. def. GRU Augusta 25-17,25-18,25-17

GRU Augusta (2-12 , 0-7 PBC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Kristen Koch 8-1-1;
Jenna Keeler 8-0-0; Paige Tuttle 7-0-5; Leslye Barnette 4-1-0;
Chandler Mass 2-0-0; Kailla Baptiste 2-0-4; Katie Beresford 1-0-0;
Maggie Darling 0-2-0; Totals 32-4-5.0. (Assists) - Chandler Mass 26.
(Dig leaders) - Cat. DeSilvester 9; Chandler Mass 9; Kristen Koch 8

Francis Marion Univ. (10-1 , 5-0 PBC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Emily
Sears 13-1-1; Jessica Imbimbo 8-0-1; Alexzandra Reed 8-1-1; Megan
Mooney 7-3-0; Shelby Jones 5-0-4; Kailey Smith 0-2-1; Totals 41-7-4.0.
(Assists) - Kailey Smith 34. (Dig leaders) - Jessica Imbimbo 9;
Brianna West 8

Site: Florence, SC (Smith Univ. Center)
Date: Oct 04, 2013   Attend: 115   Time: 1:17    
Referees: Randy McLamb, Robert Webb
Liberos: Davis (FMU), DeSilvesetr (GRUA)