FLORENCE, SC – Sophomore Adison Minor pounded out back-to-back kills to rally Francis Marion University to a 26-24 first-set win and the Patriots rode that momentum to a sweep (26-24, 25-19, 25-17) of UNC Pembroke, Friday evening (Oct. 11) in Peach Belt Conference volleyball action.

Francis Marion ups its overall record to 10-8 and climbs to 1-2 in Peach Belt play.  The Patriots return to action at home on Saturday (Oct. 12) with a non-conference match against Winston-Salem State University (8-5) at noon in the Smith University Center.

Sophomores Alyssa Hansen and Lily Walton paced the Patriots with 10 kills apiece.  Walton registered a .625 attack percentage, while Hansen also dug up eight balls.  Junior Courtney Abdur-Rahim added seven kills, three service aces, and nine digs, while both Kayla Arthur and Minor chipped in six kills.

FMU sophomore setter Finn Millians compiled 36 assists and nine digs, while senior libero Natalie Vaughn posted a team-high 11 digs.

Raven Oates led UNCP (9-13, 0-3) with 10 kills and six digs.

The Braves overcame a 13-9 Patriot lead in the opening set and forged a 23-20 advantage.  UNCP served with a set-point at 24-22, but a service error, a bad set, and two kills by Minor produced a come-from-behind 26-24 FMU win.

Francis Marion held a narrow 12-10 lead midway through the second set, but gradually pulled away for a 6-point victory, 25-19.  FMU trailed only once in the final set, 1-0 after the opening UNCP serve. With the score knotted at 3-3, the Patriots used an 8-1 spurt behind the serving of Arthur and Millians to take a commanding 11-4 lead en route to a 25-17 clinching win.

Post-match comments from FMU head coach Lauren Baufield, junior Kayla Arthur, and sophomore Lily Walton

Francis Marion Univ. def. UNC Pembroke 26-24,25-19,25-17

UNC Pembroke (9-13,0-3 Peach Belt) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Raven Oates
10-1-1; Ashley Caesar 7-0-2; Brianna Warren 4-0-3; Shannon Skryd
3-0-2; Savannah Bean 3-0-0; April Tankersley 2-0-4; Kaila Crowder
2-0-0; Abby Farr 1-0-0; Morgan Gibbs 0-1-0; Casey O'Quinn 0-1-0; Anna
Heinz 0-1-0; Totals 32-4-7.0. (Assists) - Casey O'Quinn 17. (Dig
leaders) - Anna Heinz 12; Abby Farr 10

Francis Marion Univ. (10-8,1-2 Peach Belt) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Lily
Walton 10-0-1; Alyssa Hansen 10-0-0; Courtney Abdur-Rahim 7-3-1; Kayla
Arthur 6-2-1; Adison Minor 6-1-1; Finn Millians 1-0-0; Iyanla Thigpen
1-0-1; Totals 41-6-3.0. (Assists) - Finn Millians 36. (Dig leaders) -
Adison Minor 11; Courtney Abdur-Rahim 9; Finn Millians 9; Alyssa
Hansen 8

Site: Florence, SC (Smith University Cen)
Date: 10/11/19       Attend: 173   Time: 1:17
Referees: Robert Doan, Ronnie Mutter
Line judges: Jamaal Brown, Renee Todd