MURFREESBORO, NC – Francis Marion University fell in four sets, 25-19, 25-20, 23-25, 25-21, to Chowan University, Saturday afternoon (Oct. 30) in Conference Carolinas volleyball action.
 
FMU drops to 16-10 overall and 12-2 in conference play.  The Patriots lead second-place UNC Pembroke by a half game in the East Division standings.  Francis Marion will play its final two home matches of the regular season this coming week: Friday at 6 p.m. against Lees-McRae College and Saturday at 2 p.m. against King University.
 
Junior Gracie Davis led FMU with 12 kills, while sophomore Lexi Albright added 11 kills and 13 digs for her sixth double-double of the season.  Senior Lily Walton chipped in nine kills and a team-high five blocks.
 
Sophomore setter Kaylee Gillespie paced the Patriots with 32 assists, while also digging up 13 balls for her 13th double-double of the year.  Freshman libero Zoie Larkins and graduate student Naina Ivanova led the FMU defense with 14 digs apiece, while freshman Peyton Holley had 11.
 
Anixa Rosa-Martinez led Chowan with 18 kills.
 
After the Hawks captured the first two sets, Francis Marion staved off defeat with a 25-23 victory in set No.3.  Kills by senior Iyanla Thigpen and Davis along with a Chowan attacking error helped FMU snap a late 22-22 deadlock.  That set featured eight ties and four lead changes.
 
The Hawks flew to a 13-4 advantage in the fourth set, only to see Francis Marion rally to within 22-21 after a kill by Albright.  However, Chowan was able to secure the final three points needed to end the match.
 
 
Chowan University def. Francis Marion Univ. 25-19,25-20,23-25,25-21
 
Francis Marion Univ. (16-10 (12-2)) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Gracie Davis
12-0-2; Lexi Albright 11-2-1; Lily Walton 9-0-5; Iyanla Thigpen 7-0-2;
Kayla Arthur 3-0-0; Madeline Winning 3-0-3; Kaylee Gillespie 1-1-1;
Naina Ivanova 1-2-0; Peyton Holley 0-1-0; Zoie Larkins 0-1-0; Totals
47-7-7.0. (Assists) - Kaylee Gillespie 32. (Dig leaders) - Naina
Ivanova 14; Zoie Larkins 14; Lexi Albright 13; Kaylee Gillespie 13;
Peyton Holley 11
 
Chowan University (6-19 (3-11)) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Anixa
Rosa-Martinez 18-3-1; Madison Hall 10-0-1; AnamarieColon-Calero 9-1-2;
Haydon Ahlers 7-0-0; Chloe Putnam 5-1-1; Ciara Ortega 4-0-0; Nyah
Powers 2-0-4; Hadley Prince 1-4-0; Totals 56-9-5.0. (Assists) - Ciara
Ortega 28; Alondra R.-Miranda 15. (Dig leaders) - Natalia Vega-Aponte
39; Hadley Prince 20; Ciara Ortega 10; Anixa Rosa-Martinez 9
 
Site: Murfreesboro, N.C. (Hawks Ath. Center)
Date: Oct 30, 2021   Attend: 119   Time: 1:12
Referees: David Brant, Scott Hawly