FLORENCE, SC – Junior Gracie Davis pounded out 16 kills while registering a .417 hitting percentage to lead Francis Marion University to a 25-22, 25-15, 25-19 sweep of visiting Lees-McRae College, Friday evening (Nov. 5) in Conference Carolinas volleyball play.
 
Francis Marion improves to 17-10 overall and 13-2 in the conference while remaining in a tie for first-place in the East Division standings with UNC Pembroke.  The Patriots will celebrate Senior Day on Saturday when FMU entertains King University (Tenn.) at 2 p.m. in the Smith University Center.  Admission is free, but all spectators are required to wear a mask.
 
Graduate student Kayla Arthur followed Davis with eight kills, while sophomore Lexi Albright tallied seven kills and 20 digs.
 
FMU sophomore setter Kaylee Gillespie handed out 36 assists, while freshman libero Zoie Larkins dug up a team-high 22 balls.
 
Senior Olivia Ney led Lees-McRae (9-14, 7-9) with nine kills, while setter Carlee Allbaugh recorded 27 assists and 15 digs.
 
The Patriots held a slim 19-18 advantage in the opening set, when Davis accounted for four of FMU's final six points with kills, including three in-a-row.  Francis Marion never trailed in set number two as both Davis and Arthur posted four kills. FMU trailed only once, at 2-1, in the third set, but the Bobcats crept to within one late at 17-16.  Davis helped repel the rally with three kills, including the matching-ending point.
 
Davis is a product of Myrtle Beach High School.
 

 
Francis Marion Univ. def. Lees-McRae 25-22,25-15,25-19
 
Lees-McRae (9-14,7-9 Conference) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Ney, Olivia
9-0-4; Gilreath, Hailey 7-0-3; Chun, Mahealani 7-0-1; Colon Moreno,
Natash 5-2-0; Hill, Kaden 3-0-2; Allbaugh, Carlee 1-0-1; Xayavong,
Lauren 0-2-0; Adamson, Bre 0-1-0; Totals 32-5-6.0. (Assists) -
Allbaugh, Carlee 27. (Dig leaders) - Xayavong, Lauren 26; Allbaugh,
Carlee 15; Goins, Madison 11; Colon Moreno, Natash 8
 
Francis Marion Univ. (17-10,13-2 Conferenc) (Kills-aces-blocks) -
Gracie Davis 16-0-1; Kayla Arthur 8-0-1; Lexi Albright 7-0-1; Lily
Walton 6-0-2; Iyanla Thigpen 4-0-3; Kaylee Gillespie 0-1-2; Naina
Ivanova 0-1-0; Peyton Holley 0-1-0; Totals 41-3-5.0. (Assists) -
Kaylee Gillespie 36. (Dig leaders) - Zoie Larkins 22; Lexi Albright
20; Peyton Holley 10; Naina Ivanova 9
 
Site: Florence, SC (Smith University Center)
Date: 11/05/21       Attend: 134   Time: 1:34