DUE WEST, SC – Francis Marion University split a pair of matches on day two of the Fleet Classic Volleyball Tournament hosted by Erskine College on Saturday (Sept. 1).

FMU knocked off hosts Erskine College 25-8, 25-23, 25-22, and fell to the University of West Georgia 25-21, 25-19, 21-25, 25-13.

Next up for the Patriots (4-4) is a trip to Wingate, N.C. on Tuesday (Sept. 4) for a pair of matches against Barton College (5 p.m.) and Wingate University (7 p.m.).

Francis Marion got off to a fast start against Erskine (1-6), using an 11-2 run to open up a 20-6 lead in the opening set. The Patriots then held off rallies from the Flying Fleet in the second and third sets to earn their third win of the weekend.

Sophomore Kayla Arthur led FMU in kills with 11, while hitting .526. Freshman Iyanla Thigpen added six kills, including the clinching kills in the second and third set, as well as four blocks.

Senior setter Carrie McGinnis dished out 25 assists and added seven digs, while freshman Alexis Watts picked up seven digs of her own.

In the loss to West Georgia (4-2), Arthur (13) and freshman Alyssa Hansen (11) led the Patriots in kills. Thigpen added eight kills, while hitting .583.

McGinnis once again paced FMU with 31 assists, while junior Natalie Vaughn posted a match-high 14 digs.

Francis Marion Univ. def. Erskine College 25-8,25-23,25-22

Francis Marion Univ. (4-4) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Kayla Arthur
11-1-0; Courtney Abdur-Rahim 6-2-0; Iyanla Thigpen 6-0-4; Madison
Taylor 4-2-0; Alyssa Hansen 3-0-1; Carrie McGinnis 2-1-1; Totals
32-6-5.0. (Assists) - Carrie McGinnis 25. (Dig leaders) - Carrie
McGinnis 7; Alexis Watts 7

Erskine College (1-6) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Kayla Duncan 9-1-3;
Reilly Bartlett 7-1-2; Madison Plyn 4-0-0; Katy Torgerson 3-1-1; JoJo
Taylor 3-0-0; Maddie Wilson 2-0-0; Mary Kate Beck 1-0-0; Jauhna Smith
1-0-0; Rebecca Massengill 0-2-0; Totals 30-5-4.0. (Assists) - Reilly
Bartlett 15. (Dig leaders) - Jauhna Smith 6; Maddie Wilson 5

Site: Due West, SC (Belk Arena)

Date: Sep 01, 2018 Attend: 107 Time: 1:25

UWG def. Francis Marion Univ. 25-21,25-19,21-25,25-13

Francis Marion Univ. (3-4) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Kayla Arthur
13-1-2; Alyssa Hansen 11-0-4; Courtney Abdur-Rahim 9-6-0; Iyanla
Thigpen 8-0-3; Madison Taylor 3-0-3; Natalie Ferrell 1-0-0; Totals
45-7-6.0. (Assists) - Carrie McGinnis 31. (Dig leaders) - Natalie
Vaughn 14; Courtney Abdur-Rahim 9; Alexis Watts 8

UWG (4-2) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Emilee Harris 11-1-1; McKenna
Wharton 10-4-0; Katie Hanson 9-0-2; Niah Bruce 5-0-4; Kaylyn Buchanan
5-2-2; Anjelina Webb 4-0-0; Madi Fleming 1-5-1; Jesse Echols 0-0-1;
Devon Dickey 0-2-0; Anna Metzler 0-1-0; Totals 45-15-7.0. (Assists) -
Madi Fleming 40. (Dig leaders) - McKenna Wharton 11; Emilee Harris 10

Site: Due West, SC (Belk Arena)

Date: Sep 01, 2018 Attend: 52 Time: 1:45