HARROGATE, TN – Senior Erika Hartings' career-high 17 kills led Francis Marion University to a four-set victory (25-19, 14-25, 25-22, 25,20) over Lincoln Memorial University, Friday night (Sept. 29) in non-conference women's volleyball action.

This improves the Patriots' record to 5-8 on the campaign, while the Railsplitters fall to 6-5.

The next match for FMU will be against Carson-Newman University on Saturday at 5 p.m. The next home contest for the Patriots will be Tuesday at 7 p.m. against UNC Pembroke.

Following Hartings, freshman Kayla Arthur logged one-shy of her career best in kills, having 16 for the match. Senior Shelbi Meek had eight kills and sophomore Lenee' Blot four. Hartings also tallied eight digs and three blocks, while posting a .364 hitting percentage.

FMU sophomore libero Natalie Vaughn led both squads with 14 digs. She also had two aces, while freshman setter Tori Carpenter dished out a career-high 38 assists, dug up eight balls, and compiled two aces in the contest.

FMU jumped out to an 8-5 lead in the opening set of action and finished the set strong by a score of 25-19.  After dropping the second set, the Patriots were down early in the third (3-6), but rallied at tie the set at 8-8 and went on to win the set.  The fourth set featured six ties, but FMU pulled away, finishing the match out on a 16-9 run.

Francis Marion Univ. def. Lincoln Memorial 25-19,14-25,25-22,25-20

Francis Marion Univ. (5-8) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Erika Hartings
17-0-3; Kayla Arthur 16-1-1; Shelbi Meek 8-0-1; Lenee' Blot 4-1-1;
Cortney Bowen 2-0-4; Tori Carpenter 2-2-0; Natalie Vaughn 0-2-0;
Veronica Lane 0-0-1; Totals 49-6-6.0. (Assists) - Tori Carpenter 38.
(Dig leaders) - Natalie Vaughn 14; Tori Carpenter 8; Erika Hartings 8

Lincoln Memorial (6-5) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Alicia Kessler 10-0-2;
Rylee Storms 9-0-0; Lindsey Nartker 8-1-1; Tone Gill 7-3-2; Kiera
Holland 7-2-1; Danielle Ged 3-0-2; Olivia Brock 1-0-0; Erica Whiteaker
0-2-0; Totals 45-8-4.0. (Assists) - Olivia Brock 26; Danielle Stachura
16. (Dig leaders) - Erica Whiteaker 12; Lindsey Nartker 8

Site: Harrogate, TN (Mars Gym)
Date: Sep 29, 2017   Attend: 357   Time: 1:41   
Referees: Roger George, Gary Stuart