FLORENCE, SC – The Francis Marion University volleyball team split its two matches on the first day of its annual FMU Invitational Tournament on Friday night (Sept. 11), taking a win over the University of Mount Olive 25-16, 25-13, 25-17 before falling to unbeaten University of Alabama-Huntsville 20-25, 25-18, 25-22, 25-14 inside the Smith University Center.

The Patriots (4-2) return to action on Saturday (Sept.12) to battle North Greenville University (4-2) at 1 p.m., and the University of West Alabama (1-4) at 5 p.m.  Action begins at 9 a.m. and continues through approximately 9 p.m. on Saturday with admission being free.

In the sweep over Mount Olive (0-6), freshman Georgia Garrison led FMU with eight kills, while junior Carlie Smith had seven, and senior Alexzandra Reed and junior Caroline Boone had six apiece.

Garrison and Reed each recorded six digs in the match, while both Boone and Garrison served five aces.  Boone added five blocks.

Freshman Carrie McGinnis and junior Samantha Hinrichs split time as setter for Francis Marion. McGinnis had a game-high 17 assists and Hinrichs finished with 11.  Sophomore libero Shelbi Meeks dug up a game-high nine digs as FMU held the Trojans to a .014 hitting percentage.

The Patriots were effective on serves by recording 12 service aces in the win over the Trojans.  FMU did not trail in the opening two sets.

FMU got off to a fast start in the second match of the day by using a .515 hitting percentage to take set one, 25-20, before falling to UAH (7-0) in the nightcap.

Boone had a team-high 13 kills against the Chargers and was followed up by sophomore Kadeeja Griffin with 10 kills.  Both recorded good hitting percentages with Boone at .450 and Griffin at .438. Boone recorded a team-high five blocks.

Garrison and Meek led the Patriots in digs, with 18 and 14 respectively.

McGinnis had 22 of the Patriots' 43 total assists in the contest, with Hinrichs handing out 18.

Francis Marion Univ. def. Univ. of Mount Olive 25-16,25-13,25-17

Univ. of Mount Olive (0-6) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Cali Watson 6-0-2;
Sarah Watkins 2-0-2; Montgomery Register 2-0-2; Danielle Plante 2-0-0;
Samantha Winfield 2-0-0; Sydney Kanupp 2-0-0; Britni Johnson 2-0-1;
Nicole Karas 1-0-0; Alysha Burnett 0-1-0; Totals 19-1-4.0. (Assists) -
. (Dig leaders) - Samantha Winfield 7; Jordan Barnes 6

Francis Marion Univ. (4-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Georgia Garrison
8-5-0; Carlie Smith 7-0-3; Alexzandra Reed 6-0-2; Caroline Boone
6-5-5; Kadeeja Griffin 5-0-2; Shelby Schindler 1-0-0; Carrie McGinnis
1-1-0; Emily Sears 0-0-2; Samantha Hinrichs 0-1-0; Totals 34-12-8.0.
(Assists) - Carrie McGinnis 17; Samantha Hinrichs 11. (Dig leaders) -
Shelbi Meek 9; Georgia Garrison 6

Site: Florence, SC (Smith Univ. Center)
Date: Sep 11, 2015   Attend: 247   Time: 1:08    
Referees: Tony Hill, Ron Mutter, Shelby Matthews
FMU Invitational Tournament in Florence, SC
Liberos: Meek (FMU), Barnes (UMO), Burnett (UMO)

Alabama-Huntsville (7-0) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Anna LeDuc 13-1-4; Anna
Claire Johnson 12-2-1; Kendall Knisley 11-0-4; Rachel Brugman 6-0-5;
Haley Snyder 5-1-3; Kirsten Giles 3-1-0; Alexis Deal 0-4-0; Haley Hop
0-4-0; Totals 50-13-9.0. (Assists) - Kirsten Giles 40. (Dig leaders) -
Haley Hop 23; Anna LeDuc 12

Francis Marion Univ. (4-2) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Caroline Boone
13-2-5; Kadeeja Griffin 10-0-4; Alexzandra Reed 8-1-1; Georgia
Garrison 6-1-2; Carlie Smith 5-0-3; Emily Sears 5-0-2; Samantha
Hinrichs 2-0-0; Carrie McGinnis 0-1-0; Totals 49-5-9.0. (Assists) -
Carrie McGinnis 22; Samantha Hinrichs 18. (Dig leaders) - Georgia
Garrison 18; Shelbi Meek 14

Site: Florence, SC (Smith Univ. Center)
Date: Sep 11, 2015   Attend: 126   Time: 1:30   
Referees: Tad Watson, Tony Hill, Alexis Bell
FMU Invitational Tournament in Florence, SC
Liberos: Meek (FMU), Hop (UAH)