FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University won the opening set, but UNC Pembroke rallied to win the next three and the match 24-26, 25-18, 25-20, 25-16, Tuesday evening (March 16) in the first volleyball installment of the Battle of I-95.
 
Francis Marion (1-3, 1-3) will continue its three-match road swing by playing at Flagler College on Friday at 6 p.m.
 
Junior 6-2 middleblocker Iyanla Thigpen led FMU with 13 kills and two blocks.  She committed only one attacking error on her 28 swings for a .429 hitting percentage.
 
Senior Kayla Arthur and freshman Lexi Albright each tallied 10 kills, with Albright also recording 13 digs for her second double-double of the young season.
 
Junior libero Alexis Watts dug up a team-high 15 balls and served two aces, while freshman setter Kaylee Gillespie registered 20 assists and six digs and junior setter Finn Millians 17 assists and eight digs.
 
Senior Courtney Abdur-Rahim added 10 digs and three service aces.
 
April Tankersley led UNCP (3-1, 3-1) with 14 kills and four blocks, while Morgan Gibbs dished out 25 assists and served five aces.
 
In the opening set, FMU faced a set point trailing 24-23, but a pair of kills by Albright and a UNCP attacking error allowed the Patriots to come out victorious.  In the second set, the Braves snapped an early 6-6 tie with four straight points and would never trail again in the match.
 
 
UNC Pembroke def. Francis Marion Univ. 24-26,25-18,25-20,25-16
 
Francis Marion Univ. (1-3,1-3 Peach Belt) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Iyanla
Thigpen 13-0-2; Kayla Arthur 10-0-2; Lexi Albright 10-1-1; Gracie
Davis 7-0-1; Lily Walton 3-1-4; Finn Millians 1-0-0; Alyssa Hansen
1-0-2; Courtney Abdur-Rahim 0-3-0; Kaylee Gillespie 0-1-0; Alexis
Watts 0-2-0; Totals 45-8-7.0. (Assists) - Kaylee Gillespie 20; Finn
Millians 17. (Dig leaders) - Alexis Watts 15; Lexi Albright 13;
Courtney Abdur-Rahim 10; Finn Millians 8
 
UNC Pembroke (3-1,3-1 Peach Belt) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Tankersley,
April 14-0-4; Warren, Brianna 8-2-8; Hicks, Elly 8-0-1; Skryd, Shannon
7-1-3; O'Donnell, Erin 7-0-2; Crowder, Kaila 3-4-1; Gibbs, Morgan
0-5-0; Martin, Elise 0-1-0; Totals 47-13-10.0. (Assists) - Gibbs,
Morgan 25; Pressley, Katie 14. (Dig leaders) - Martin, Elise 19;
Crowder, Kaila 15; Pressley, Katie 9
 
Site: Pembroke, NC (Lumbee Guaranty Bank)
Date: 03/16/21       Attend:     Time: 1:42