ST. AUGUSTINE, FL – Aided by 19 kills from sophomore Alyssa Hansen, Francis Marion University forced four sets against Flagler College on Saturday (Oct. 19) afternoon, but the Patriots eventually fall 3-1 to the Saints 25-22, 23-25, 25-20, 25-23 in Peach Belt Conference volleyball action.

FMU (12-9, 1-3) will step outside of conference play and host to Paine College on Wednesday (Oct. 23) for a 7 p.m. first serve.  The match will be the Patriots' annual DIG PINK contest.

Junior hitter Kayla Arthur followed Hansen with 11 kills and four blocks. Sophomore 6-2 middle blocker Iyanla Thigpen added an additional 10 kills and three blocks for the Patriots.

Patriot sophomore setter Finn Millians handed out 47 assists. Senior libero Natalie Vaughn dug up 20 balls and had two service aces, while junior Courtney Abdur-Rahim dug up 11 balls and had nine kills.

Sophomore Rebekah Machovec led Flagler (14-6, 4-2) with 19 kills. Saints setter Kennedy Muff dished out 46 assists and libero Kayla Norelli dug up 23 balls.

Kills by Abdur-Rahim and Thigpen off sets from Millians allowed FMU to snap a 23-23 deadlock in the second set.  Needing a win in set No. 4 to force a fifth set, the Patriots led 22-19.  However, Flagler ended the match with a 6-1 spurt.

Flagler def. Francis Marion Univ. 25-22,23-25,25-20,25-23

Francis Marion Univ. (12-9, 1-3 PBC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Alyssa
Hansen 19-1-1; Kayla Arthur 11-2-4; Iyanla Thigpen 10-0-3; Courtney
Abdur-Rahim 9-1-1; Lily Walton 6-0-2; Finn Millians 2-0-0; Brittany
Sehnke 1-0-0; Natalie Vaughn 0-2-0; Totals 58-6-6.0. (Assists) - Finn
Millians 47. (Dig leaders) - Natalie Vaughn 20; Courtney Abdur-Rahim
11; Alyssa Hansen 9; Finn Millians 8

Flagler (14-6, 4-2 PBC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Rebekah Machovec 19-0-2;
Karlie Redfern 14-0-2; Jordan Taylor 8-0-3; Rachel Machovec 5-0-1;
Kennedy Muff 4-1-3; Logan Garcia 4-0-4; Victoria Bowrosen 3-0-0; Sara
Kate Thompson 0-1-0; Kayla Norelli 0-2-0; Totals 57-4-8.0. (Assists) -
Kennedy Muff 46. (Dig leaders) - Kayla Norelli 23; Kennedy Muff 10;
Rachel Machovec 8

Site: St. Augustine, Fla. (Flagler Gym)
Date: Oct 19, 2019   Attend: 175   Time: 2:05   
Referees: David Carstenson, Rebecca Carstenson