FLORENCE, SC – Despite a pair of double-figure kill efforts by junior Alexzandra Reed, Francis Marion University lost a pair of matches on the final day of the annual FMU Invitational Volleyball Tournament on Saturday (Sept. 6).  The Patriots lost to Erskine College in five sets (25-20, 18-25, 25-21, 17-25, 15-12) and to Mars Hill University in three sets (25-20, 25-20, 25-22).

In other tournament action on Saturday, Erskine outlasted Mars Hill 25-27, 18-25, 25-12, 25-10, 16-14; Shorter University defeated the University of Mount Olive 25-12, 25-12, 25-20; Lander University beat Shorter 25-21, 25-19, 27-25; and Lander bested Mount Olive 25-18, 25-13, 25-18.

Francis Marion will return to action next weekend at the USC Aiken Tournament.  FMU will play a pair of matches on Friday and Saturday, starting with Palm Beach Atlantic University on Friday at 1 p.m.

In the match against Erskine (2-2), Reed recorded 20 kills, while 6-2 sophomore Caroline Boone registered a career-high 11 kills, five service aces, and five blocks.  Senior setter Sloane Shank recorded 47 assists, while junior libero Jessica Amador and freshman Sarah Cushing each tallied 12 digs.  Sophomore hitter Chiquita Rivers added nine kills and seven blocks, while junior Brianna West had 10 digs.

In the deciding fifth set, Erskine rallied from a 9-7 deficit with five straight points.  FMU pulled to within 13-12 on an attack error by the Flying Fleet, but Erskine captured the final two points on a kill and a Patriot hitting error.

Reed again led Francis Marion against Mars Hill (1-3), this time with 13 kills and 13 digs.  Shank handed out 28 assists and dug up eight balls with four blocks, while Amador posted a team-high 17 digs.  Rivers chipped in six kills, and five blocks.

Amador handled 50 serve receptions over the two matches without committing an error.

Mars Hill University def. Francis Marion Univ. 25-20,25-20,25-22

Mars Hill University (1-3) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Mary Kate Griffin
11-0-1; Rebecca Butler 8-1-1; Lauren Hochstetler 6-2-0; Regan Macomson
5-0-1; Devon Felts 4-0-0; Sara Fahrenbrook 1-3-1; Totals 35-6-2.0.
(Assists) - Sara Fahrenbrook 28. (Dig leaders) - Hannah Wilson 19;
Christen Nicholson 14

Francis Marion Univ. (2-2) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Alexzandra Reed
13-0-1; Chiquita Rivers 6-0-5; Meagan Fajman 6-0-1; Caroline Boone
6-0-1; Shelby Schindler 1-0-4; Sloane Shank 1-0-4; Totals 33-0-9.0.
(Assists) - Sloane Shank 28. (Dig leaders) - Jessica Amador 17;
Alexzandra Reed 13; Sarah Cushing 9; Sloane Shank 8

Site: Florence, SC (Smith Univ. Center)
Date: Sep 06, 2014   Attend: 150   Time: 1:20   
Referees: Charley Yang, David Mabe
FMU Invitational Tournament in Florence, SC
Liberos: Amador (FMU), Nicholson (MH)

Erskine College def. Francis Marion Univ. 25-20,18-25,25-21,17-25,15-12

Erskine College (2-2) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Sade Mendez 12-0-7;
Caitlin Bullock 12-0-2; Marissa Greenough 11-2-3; Kelly Sullivan
8-2-7; Catherine McAlister 7-0-5; Kristen Dodge 3-2-0; Kendall Kirk
0-1-0; Megan Johnson 0-2-0; Totals 53-9-12.0. (Assists) - Kristen
Dodge 43. (Dig leaders) - Kendall Kirk 18; Kristen Dodge 9

Francis Marion Univ. (2-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Alexzandra Reed
20-2-1; Caroline Boone 11-5-5; Meagan Fajman 9-0-1; Chiquita Rivers
9-1-7; Sloane Shank 2-2-1; Shelby Schindler 2-0-2; Jessica Amador
0-2-0; Totals 53-12-9.0. (Assists) - Sloane Shank 47. (Dig leaders) -
Jessica Amador 12; Sarah Cushing 12; Brianna West 10

Site: Florence, SC (Smith Univ. Center)
Date: Sep 06, 2014   Attend: 163   Time: 2:01   
Referees: David Mabe, Michael Holder
FMU Invitational Tournament in Florence, SC
Liberos: Amador (FMU), Kirk (EC)