COLUMBUS, GA – Francis Marion University junior middleblocker Caroline Boone recorded a kill and then combined with freshman Georgia Garrison to block a Columbus State University attack to account for the Patriots' final two points as FMU rallied to claim a historic 25-11, 21-25, 18-25, 25-18, 15-13 road win over the Cougars, Friday evening (Oct. 16) in Peach Belt Conference women's volleyball action.  The win was the 800th all-time victory for the Francis Marion program, in this its 43rd season.

FMU improves to 12-8 overall and climbs above .500 in conference play at 5-4.  The Patriots will play at the University of Montevallo on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. (Eastern time).  The next home match for Francis Marion will be its annual Dig Pink Match on Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. against Flagler College.

Boone pounded out 14 kills and committed only two errors in 25 total attacks for a .480 hitting percentage. Boone also totaled a team-high six blocks and served three aces. Senior Alexzandra Reed added 15 kills and 14 digs to register her seventh double-double of the year.

Junior Carlie Smith and Garrison each posted stat lines of six kills and 11 digs with Garrison also tallying five service aces.  Sophomore libero Shelbi Meek dug up a team-high 23 balls and handled 29 serve receptions without committing an error.

Junior setter Samantha Hinrichs handed out 22 assists, while freshman Carrie McGinnis dished out 20 assists.

Megan Frame led Columbus State (2-18, 0-10) with 21 kills, while setter Cori Ehman tallied 41 assists and 13 digs and Caytlin Merritt recorded 28 digs.

FMU won for the first time this season in a five-set match, snapping an 0-4 skid in such marathon contests. The Patriots never trailed in taking the easy set-one win on Friday.  CSU broke a 10-10 deadlock in the second set with a 4-0 spurt en route to evening the match.  The Cougars never trailed in winning set three and taking a 2-1 lead.  After CSU jumped out to an early 8-3 advantage in the fourth set, Francis Marion rallied behind the serving of Garrison and Boone with an 8-1 run that put the Patriots up 11-9.  FMU ended the set by winning five of the final six points, again aided by the serving of Garrison.

In the deciding fifth set, FMU took an early 7-2 lead, but Columbus State rallied to knot the score. The contest was deadlocked at 10-10, 11-11, 12-12, and 13-13 before Boone helped end the proceedings.