FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University swept local-rival UNC Pembroke in three straight sets 25-18, 25-17, 25-20 in Peach Belt Conference volleyball action on Friday night (Oct. 12)

FMU is now 10-10 and 2-4 in PBC play. With the victory, Francis Marion surpasses its win total from last season. It is the fifth straight time the Patriots have beaten the Braves.

Francis Marion and UNC Pembroke (7-13, 0-4) meet again Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. in Pembroke, N.C. The Patriots return to Smith University on Friday (Oct. 19) to take on PBC foe USC Aiken with first serve set for 7 p.m.

Sophomore Courtney Abdur-Rahim paced the Patriots' attack, registering a match-high 11 kills. Freshman Alyssa Hansen added 10 kills, while hitting .474. Both setters posted double-doubles for FMU with senior Carrie McGinnis handing out 18 assists and adding 14 digs and freshman Finn Millians collecting 14 assists, while digging up 13 balls.

Sophomore libero Natalie Ferrell posted a pair of career-highs for the evening, picking up five service aces, as well as dishing out seven assists. Senior Georgia Garrison chipped in three kills, bringing her career total to 980.

The Braves were led by freshman Shannon Skryd and senior Aquia Jones, who registered 10 and nine kills, respectively. Junior libero Anna Heinz dug up a match-high 17 balls, and senior Bailee Jones handed out 28 assists.

UNCP took the first point of the night, but FMU quickly tied it up, and proceeded to hold the lead for the remainder of the opening set, thanks in large part to six kills from Abdur-Rahim.

With the second set even at 5-5, the Patriots went on a 7-2 run to open up a five-point advantage. FMU's lead did not dip below three for the remainder of the second set. Francis Marion jumped out to a quick 8-2 lead in the final set, forcing the Braves into a timeout. UNCP made a run in the latter stages of the set, trimming the Patriot edge to two on a couple of different occasions, but FMU held on for a 25-20 victory to complete the sweep.

Post-match comments from FMU head coach Lauren Baufield and freshman Alyssa Hansen

Francis Marion Univ. def. UNC Pembroke 25-18,25-17,25-20

UNC Pembroke (7-13 , 0-4) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Shannon Skryd 10-1-0;
Aquia Jones 9-0-1; Kaila Crowder 4-0-1; Elly Hicks 4-0-1; April
Tankersley 2-0-1; Raven Oates 1-0-1; Ashley Caesar 1-0-2; Brianna
Warren 0-0-1; Totals 31-1-4.0. (Assists) - Bailee Jones 28. (Dig
leaders) - Anna Heinz 17; Raven Oates 8; Shannon Skryd 8

Francis Marion Univ. (10-10 , 2-4) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Courtney
Abdur-Rahim 11-1-0; Alyssa Hansen 10-0-0; Kayla Arthur 8-0-0; Iyanla
Thigpen 7-0-1; Madison Taylor 6-0-0; Georgia Garrison 3-1-1; Finn
Millians 1-1-0; Natalie Ferrell 0-5-0; Totals 46-8-1.0. (Assists) -
Carrie McGinnis 18; Finn Millians 14. (Dig leaders) - Carrie McGinnis
14; Finn Millians 13

Site: Florence, SC (Smith Univ. Center)
Date: Oct 12, 2018   Attend: 202   Time: 1:22   
Referees: Tony Hill, Joy Stauffer
Line judges: Dewey Capps, Dan Jampole
Liberos: Ferrell (FMU), Heinz (UNCP)
2018 Dig PINK Match