FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University battled competitively for the opening half of each set, but 17th-ranked Armstrong State University pulled away each time to claim a straight-sets 25-16, 25-18, 25-15 victory, Wednesday night (Oct. 22) in Peach Belt Conference women's volleyball action.

FMU (6-15 overall, 3-9 PBC) will play at UNC Pembroke on Friday at 7 p.m.

FMU was again led by junior Alexzandra Reed with eight kills and six digs, while sophomores Caroline Boone and Chiquita Rivers each added five kills.  Senior setter Sloane Shank handed out 21 assists, and junior libero Jessica Amador dug up a team-high nine balls.

Senior Stephanie Sfara paced the Pirates (19-1, 12-0) with 14 kills, while setter Kamryn Sherman registered 32 assists and three service aces and libero Morgan Hill had 12 digs.  Armstrong has won its last 14 matches and its last 39 regular-season conference contests.

FMU trailed only 12-10 in the opening set before a 6-0 Armstrong spurt gave the Pirates breathing room.  In the second set, a kill by Boone brought Francis Marion to within 14-13 before a 5-0 Pirate run decided the set.  The Patriots held a 10-9 advantage in the final set, before Armstrong ran off eight consecutive points.

#17 Armstrong State Univ def. Francis Marion Univ. 25-16,25-18,25-15

Armstrong State Univ (19-1, 12-0 PBC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Stephanie
Sfara 14-1-1; Paige Gocke 5-0-1; Anna McGee 5-0-2; Rachel Thompson
5-0-2; Emily Wylie 4-1-0; Taylor Permenter 4-0-3; Kamryn Sherman
3-3-0; Brittany Hereth 0-1-0; Kim Brody 0-1-0; Totals 40-7-5.0.
(Assists) - Kamryn Sherman 32. (Dig leaders) - Morgan Hill 12; Kamryn
Sherman 8

Francis Marion Univ. (6-15, 3-9 PBC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Alexzandra
Reed 8-0-0; Caroline Boone 5-1-1; Chiquita Rivers 5-0-2; Meagan Fajman
4-0-1; Shelby Jones 2-0-1; Sloane Shank 1-1-1; Brianna West 0-1-0;
Jessica Amador 0-1-0; Totals 25-4-3.0. (Assists) - Sloane Shank 21.
(Dig leaders) - Jessica Amador 9; Alexzandra Reed 6

Site: Florence, SC (Smith Univ. Center)
Date: Oct 22, 2014   Attend: 311   Time: 1:20   
Referees: David Mabe, Joe Liquori
Liberos: Amador (FMU), Hill (ASU)