FRANKLIN SPRINGS  GA – Sophomore setter Kaylee Gillespie registered 28 assists, three blocks, six digs, and two kills for Francis Marion University as the Patriots won in Conference Carolinas play on Saturday (Oct. 2), defeating Emmanuel College 25-23, 25-22, 25-21.
 
FMU (10-8, 6-0), winners of six straight contests, will continue Conference Carolinas play on Friday (Oct. 8) with a 6 p.m. home match against Converse University.
 
In the victory, junior outside hitter Gracie Davis tallied 12 kills and five blocks, while sophomore outside hitter Lexi Albright added nine kills and nine digs, and graduate student Kayla Arthur chipped in six kills with a .313 hitting percentage, three blocks and a pair of service aces.  Senior Lily Walton added seven kills and a team-high five blocks.
 
The FMU defense held the Lions to a .188 team hitting percentage, while the Patriots recorded a .211 hitting percentage. Freshmen libero Zoie Larkins tallied 14 digs and five assists.
 
Emmanuel would give FMU a scare in each set bringing the difference within four points, until the Patriots would fend off each comeback and take the sweep.  The match featured 22 ties, including the final times at 23-23, 17-17, and 16-16 in the three sets respectively.
 
Alaina Emminger led Emmanuel (5-10, 3-2) with 11 kills.  The Lions had beaten UNC Pembroke in four sets on Friday night.
 
 
Francis Marion Univ. def. Emmanuel (GA) 25-23,25-22,25-21
 
Francis Marion Univ. (10-8,6-0 Conference) (Kills-aces-blocks) -
Gracie Davis 12-0-1; Lexi Albright 9-1-1; Lily Walton 7-0-5; Kayla
Arthur 6-2-3; Madeline Winning 2-0-3; Kaylee Gillespie 2-0-3; Keely
Mclain 1-1-0; Zoie Larkins 0-1-0; Totals 39-5-8.0. (Assists) - Kaylee
Gillespie 28. (Dig leaders) - Zoie Larkins 14; Keely Mclain 11; Naina
Ivanova 10; Lexi Albright 9
 
Emmanuel (GA) (5-10,3-2 Conference) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Emminger,
Alaina 11-0-1; Hamuda, Aleksandra 9-1-2; Roberts, Taylor 7-1-5;
Hanson, Emily 5-0-3; Cotton, Mia 4-0-0; Reagan, Gabi 1-0-1; McGlamery,
Gabrielle 0-1-3; Richardson, Hallie 0-2-0; Alexander, Victoria 0-1-0;
Totals 37-6-8.0. (Assists) - McGlamery, Gabrielle 34. (Dig leaders) -
Alexander, Victoria 14; Richardson, Hallie 9; Henderson, Kaitlyn 8
 
Site: Royston, GA (Shaw Athletic Center)
Date: 10/02/21       Attend: 108   Time: 1:32