DUE WEST, SC – Graduate student Kayla Arthur's 14 kills led four Francis Marion University players in double figures as the Patriots assumed first place in Conference Carolinas' East Division with a 14-25, 25-20, 25-23, 25-20 victory over Erskine College, Friday night (Oct. 1) in women's volleyball action.
 
FMU wins its fifth straight match, improves to 9-8 overall, and is lone remaining unbeaten team in conference play at 5-0 after UNC Pembroke suffered its first defeat on Friday. The Patriots will play at Emmanuel College on Saturday at 2 p.m.  The next home match for Francis Marion will be Oct. 8 against Converse University at 6 p.m.
 
Arthur tallied her kill total with a .370 hitting percentage, and the Holly Springs, N.C., is now nearing 900 kills and 400 digs for her career.
 
Junior Gracie Davis registered 13 kills and two blocks, while senior Lily Walton and junior Madeline Winning each added 10 kills.  Sophomore setter Kaylee Gillespie posted her ninth double-double of the year with 41 assists and 12 digs, while freshman libero Zoie Larkins recorded 17 digs and two service aces.
 
Meredith Hollinger led Erskine (4-12, 1-3) with 16 kills, nine digs, and three blocks.
 
After dropping the opening set, Francis Marion found itself facing a 5-0 deficit to start set No.2.  The Patriots rallied to knot the score at 10-10 following a kill by Walton.  A 3-0 spurt by FMU broke a 14-14 deadlock and the Patriots would not trail again en route to the 25-20 win.  Gillespie ended the set with a service ace.
 
Tied at 13-13 in the third set, Francis Marion used a 4-0 run to take the lead for good.  After the Flying Fleet did pull within 24-23, Davis ended the set with a kill.  In the fourth set, an early 3-0 run by the Patriots eventually led to a 10-4 advantage and FMU cruised to the victory.
 
FMU senior Alyssa Hansen reached the 500-dig mark for her career during the match.
 
 
Francis Marion Univ. def. Erskine 14-25,25-20,25-23,25-20
 
Francis Marion Univ. (9-8,5-0 Conference C) (Kills-aces-blocks) -
Kayla Arthur 14-1-1; Gracie Davis 13-0-2; Lily Walton 10-0-1; Madeline
Winning 10-0-0; Alyssa Hansen 5-0-0; Kaylee Gillespie 2-1-1; Lexi
Albright 0-1-0; Zoie Larkins 0-2-0; Totals 54-5-4.0. (Assists) -
Kaylee Gillespie 41. (Dig leaders) - Lexi Albright 17; Zoie Larkins
17; Kaylee Gillespie 12; Naina Ivanova 9
 
Erskine (4-12,1-3 Conference) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Hollinger,
Meredith 16-1-3; Torgerson, Katy 11-1-4; Taylor, Ryleigh 6-0-0;
Tuisamatatele, Kaile 5-1-3; Kinne, Makenzie 4-0-1; Smith, Rebekah Ruth
1-0-0; Carter, Mallory 0-2-1; Totals 43-5-7.0. (Assists) - Carter,
Mallory 29. (Dig leaders) - Carter, Mallory 14; Thees, Megan 12;
Tuisamatatele, Kaile 9; Hollinger, Meredith 9
 
Site: Due West, SC (Galloway Center)
Date: 10/01/21       Attend: 215   Time: 1:55