FLORENCE, SC – Senior libero Natalie Vaughn reached a career milestone by posting her 1000th dig as Francis Marion University split a pair of matches Friday (Sept. 13) on the opening day of the annual FMU Invitational Volleyball Tournament.  The Patriots defeated Converse College 26-24, 25-21, 25-21 early in the day and then dropped a tough four-set decision (25-20, 16-25, 25-18, 25-14) to Eckerd College in the evening.

Francis Marion (4-2) will return to the Smith University Center court on Saturday for day two of the tournament, playing the University of Mount Olive at 9 a.m. and the University of West Alabama at 5 p.m.  Admission to the tournament is free and action will run from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Vaughn, a native of Newport News, Va., registered 11 digs in the victory over the Valkyries to surpass the 1000-dig mark.  She added 17 in the loss to the Tritons to end the day with 1023 digs.

Sophomore Alyssa Hansen led FMU against Converse with 14 kills, while junior Kayla Arthur added 11 kills and nine digs.  Sophomore setter Finn Millians handed out 34 assists, dug up 12 balls, and served two aces.

Despite going only three sets, the match featured 43 ties and 21 lead changes.

Hansen also led the way in the second match with 11 kills, while Arthur notched a double-double with 10 kills and 10 digs.  Millians dished out 32 assists, dug up eight balls, while again serving two aces.

      Natalie Vaughn

Francis Marion Univ. def. Converse College 26-24,25-21,25-21

Converse College (0-5) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Brittany Tepedino 14-2-2;
Kiara Cannon 9-1-2; Elizabeth Yohe 5-0-1; Alexis Pitts 3-0-0; Jasmine
Finkley 3-0-2; Elizabeth Coffey 2-0-1; Sydney Allen 0-1-0; Totals
36-4-4.0. (Assists) - Lauren Tharrington 17; Lottie Hutson 13. (Dig
leaders) - Brittany Tepedino 12; Lottie Hutson 10; Sydney Allen 8;
Lauren Tharrington 8

Francis Marion Univ. (4-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Alyssa Hansen 14-0-0;
Kayla Arthur 11-0-1; Iyanla Thigpen 6-0-1; Courtney Abdur-Rahim 6-1-1;
Lily Walton 4-1-2; Finn Millians 1-2-0; Natalie Vaughn 0-1-0; Totals
42-5-3.0. (Assists) - Finn Millians 34. (Dig leaders) - Finn Millians
12; Natalie Vaughn 11; Courtney Abdur-Rahim 11; Kayla Arthur 9

Site: Florence, SC (Smith University Center)
Date: 09/13/19       Attend: 179   Time: 1:23    

Eckerd College def. Francis Marion Univ. 25-20,16-25,25-18,25-14

Eckerd College (5-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Harris,Asya 17-0-1;
Sklepik,Agata 10-1-4; Johnshoy,Sarah 9-2-1; Wisian,Rachel 8-0-6;
Jungjohann,Anna 6-0-1; Case,Sydney 3-3-1; Hoffmann,Paula 0-1-0;
Dull,Dana 0-1-0; Totals 53-8-7.0. (Assists) - Case,Sydney 44. (Dig
leaders) - Sklepik,Agata 17; Dull,Dana 16; Rezende,Luana 14

Francis Marion Univ. (4-2) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Alyssa Hansen 11-0-0;
Kayla Arthur 10-0-2; Iyanla Thigpen 7-0-2; Courtney Abdur-Rahim 5-0-1;
Finn Millians 2-2-0; Lily Walton 2-0-2; Totals 37-2-5.0. (Assists) -
Finn Millians 32. (Dig leaders) - Natalie Vaughn 17; Kayla Arthur 10;
Alyssa Hansen 8; Finn Millians 8
 
Site: Florence, SC (Smith University Center)
Date: 09/13/19       Attend: 174   Time: 1:45