FLORENCE, SC – Despite a 20 kill and 21 dig effort from junior Georgia Garrison, Francis Marion University had its rally fall just short in a five-set loss (25-21, 25-22, 14-25, 20-25, 15-12) to Lander University, Friday evening (Oct. 20) in Peach Belt Conference women's volleyball action.

The Patriots (7-13, 2-5) return to the Smith University Center court on Saturday (Oct. 21) at 2 p.m. as they host Augusta University for the program's annual PINK Match.

Garrison also registered a .452 attack percentage on 42 swings.  Freshman Kayla Arthur added 13 kills, while senior Shelbi Meek came off the bench and tallied nine kills over the final three sets. Freshman Cortney Bowen compiled seven kills and a team-high four blocks.

FMU freshman setter Tori Carpenter handed out 33 assists, while junior setter Carrie McGinnis dished out 30 assists.  Carpenter also recorded 14 digs, while sophomore libero Natalie Vaughn dug up a team-high 23 balls.

Senior Kirstin Martindale led Lander (13-7, 3-4) with 16 kills.  Setters Sophia Perkins (27) and Nell Copeland (23) combined for 50 assists, while sophomore libero Hannah McManus posted 23 digs.

Despite a combined 19 ties and nine lead changes, Lander swept the first two sets.  A 10-3 spurt to open the third set helped the Patriots pull out a 25-14 victory.  Kills by Garrison and Arthur snapped a 17-17 deadlock in the fourth set and enabled the Patriots to even the match and force a deciding fifth set.

Despite falling behind 3-0 to open the fifth set, Francis Marion rallied to take a 7-6 lead on a kill by freshman Courtney Abdur-Rahim.  The score was then tied at 7-7, 8-8, 9-9, and 10-10, before the Bearcats scored four consecutive points en route to a 15-12 win.

Lander University def. Francis Marion Univ. 25-21,25-22,14-25,20-25,15-12

Lander University (13-7 , 3-4 PBC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Kirstin
Martindale 16-1-0; Reilly Kuenstler 12-0-2; Hannah Hritz 12-0-2;
Reyonia Whipple 10-0-2; Imari Ashley 5-1-1; Jessica Johnson 5-0-1;
Totals 60-2-4.0. (Assists) - Sophia Perkins 27; Nell Copeland 23. (Dig
leaders) - Hannah McManus 23; Emma Efird 19; Sophia Perkins 14

Francis Marion Univ. (7-13 , 2-5 PBC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Georgia
Garrison 20-1-2; Kayla Arthur 13-0-0; Shelbi Meek 9-1-1; Courtney
Abdur-Rahim 8-0-2; Cortney Bowen 7-0-4; Veronica Lane 6-2-3; Erika
Hartings 4-0-1; Carrie McGinnis 1-0-0; Natalie Vaughn 1-0-0; Totals
69-4-7.0. (Assists) - Tori Carpenter 33; Carrie McGinnis 30. (Dig
leaders) - Natalie Vaughn 23; Georgia Garrison 21; Tori Carpenter 14;
Erika Hartings 10

Site: Florence, SC (Smith Univ. Center)
Date: Oct 20, 2017   Attend: 152   Time: 2:16   
Referees: Steven Truckenbrow, Tony Hill
Line judges: Billy Lane, Jesse Cheadle
Liberos: Vaughn (FMU), McManus (LU)