FLORENCE, SC – Senior Jessica Imbimbo and junior Emily Sears combined for 23 kills and Francis Marion University rallied from behind in each of the first two sets en route to a three-set sweep of Flagler College, 25-20, 33-31, 25-19, Saturday night (Sept. 14) in the Peach Belt Conference volleyball opener for both teams.

FMU improves to 5-1 overall and opens PBC play 1-0 while capturing its first-ever win over the Saints.  Flagler, picked to finish second in the Peach Belt according to the preseason coaches' poll, falls to 3-3 and 0-1.

Francis Marion will play at Barton College on Tuesday evening at 7 p.m., before returning to PBC action next weekend for a pair of road matches.

Sears recorded 13 kills and a .242 attack percentage, while Imbimbo had 10 kills, a .238 attack percentage, and a team-high 17 digs.  Senior setter Kailey Smith handed out 40 assists and dug up 11 balls, while junior libero Rebekah Davis had 13 digs.  FMU senior middleblocker Megan Mooney added seven kills and four blocks, while sophomore Alexzandra Reed had nine kills.

Senior Abby Meyers paced the Saints with 11 kills and four blocks, while libero Caitlyn Kovach dug up 22 balls. Setters Amelia Morgan (16) and Mackensie Mosley (13) combined for 29 assists.

FMU trailed 13-10 in set one, but following a timeout went on an 8-1 run – with Imbimbo serving seven times – to take an 18-14 advantage en route to the five-point win.  In the second set, FMU head coach Paul MacDonald was again forced to call a timeout as the Patriots fell behind 10-7. FMU responded with a 9-4 run to go on top 16-14. The Patriots later starved off five set points before a trio of kills by Mooney, Reed, and Mooney again finished off the thrilling 33-31 victory.

Francis Marion opened the third set with a 6-0 spurt and never trailed.  Flagler trimmed the margin to 16-12, but following another FMU timeout, the Patriots ran off three straight points and went on to the six-point win.

Francis Marion Univ. def. Flagler College 25-20,33-31,25-19

Flagler College (3-3 , 0-1 PBC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Abby Meyers
11-0-4; Emilee Taylor 7-3-3; Ashley Cheewah 7-0-2; Genel Sturgeon
5-0-2; Megan Hooks 3-0-2; Sophie Meyer 1-0-0; Jenea Reddick 1-0-0;
Amelia Morgan 0-2-0; Caitlyn Kovach 0-1-0; Totals 35-6-7.0. (Assists)
- Amelia Morgan 16; Mackensie Mosley 13. (Dig leaders) - Caitlyn
Kovach 22; Emilee Taylor 15

Francis Marion Univ. (5-1 , 1-0 PBC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Emily Sears
13-0-1; Jessica Imbimbo 10-1-1; Alexzandra Reed 9-1-2; Megan Mooney
7-1-4; Shelby Jones 5-0-1; Paige Perreault 0-1-0; Kailey Smith 0-1-1;
Rebekah Davis 0-1-0; Totals 44-6-5.0. (Assists) - Kailey Smith 40.
(Dig leaders) - Jessica Imbimbo 17; Rebekah Davis 13; Kailey Smith 11;
Emily Sears 8

Site: Florence, SC (Smith Univ. Center)
Date: Sep 14, 2013   Attend: 120   Time: 1:30    
Referees: Robert Webb, Holly Meckley
Liberos: Davis (FMU), Kovach (FC)