FLORENCE, SC – Despite a first career double-double from freshman hitter Lexi Albright, Francis Marion University lost a narrow four-set decision (27-25, 25-22, 20-25, 25-22) to USC Aiken, Tuesday night (March 9) in Peach Belt Conference volleyball action.
 
FMU (1-1, 1-1) will host Augusta University on Thursday at 6 p.m.  Admission is free, but spectators are limited to 250, including ONLY FMU season ticket holders, FMU students who pick up free tickets prior to first serve, and family members of players who reserve admission tickets prior to game day. Spectators will be required to wear masks and social distancing will be observed.
 
Albright, an Easley native, tallied 12 kills, 19 digs, and four blocks.  For the second straight match, sophomore hitter Gracie Davis led the Patriots in kills as the Myrtle Beach native registered 13 kills and a .306 hitting percentage.
 
FMU junior setter Finn Millians handed out 39 assists and dug up 13 balls, while junior libero Alexis Watts recorded 10 digs.
 
Senior Alie Smith led the Pacers (1-1, 1-1) with 31 kills, nine digs, and a .302 hitting percentage.  Junior setter Caroline Foster dished out 47 assists.
 
The match featured 38 ties and 16 lead changes.  Francis Marion owned a set point in the opening game, but USCA rallied with the final three points to earn the win.  In the third set, the two squads were deadlocked at 19-19 when kills by Davis and junior middleblocker Iyanla Thigpen and two Pacer attack errors gave the Patriots a 23-19 advantage.  A service ace by Millians provided the final point of the 25-20 FMU victory.
 
In the final set, a kill by junior Alyssa Hansen drew FMU to within 22-21.  However, a kill by Smith and a Francis Marion attacking error helped allow USCA to claim a clinching 25-22 win.


 
S.C. Aiken def. Francis Marion 27-25,25-22,20-25,25-22
 
S.C. Aiken (1-1,1-1 Peach Belt) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Smith, Alie
31-1-2; Bresee, Sydney 10-0-0; Cookey-Gam, Anita 6-0-1; Pitt, Alisha
5-0-5; Rodriguez, Kaitlyn 3-1-0; Foster, Caroline 2-1-0; Hoffman,
Sophia 1-0-0; Mercer, Kari 0-1-0; Totals 58-4-5.0. (Assists) - Foster,
Caroline 47. (Dig leaders) - Duggan, Emily 14; Mercer, Kari 13;
Duggan, Kayla 10; Smith, Alie 9
 
Francis Marion (1-1,1-1 Peach Belt) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Davis,
Gracie 13-0-2; Albright, Lexi 12-0-4; Thigpen, Iyanla 8-0-7; Hansen,
Alyssa 5-0-3; Arthur, Kayla 2-0-1; Walton, Lily 2-0-4; Millians, Finn
2-1-1; Abdur-Rahim, Courtne 1-0-0; Totals 45-1-12.0. (Assists) -
Millians, Finn 39. (Dig leaders) - Albright, Lexi 19; Millians, Finn
13; Watts, Alexis 10; Abdur-Rahim, Courtne 9
 
Site: Florence, SC (Smith University Cen)
Date: 03/09/21       Attend: 140   Time: 1:50
Referees: Roque Urena (1), Joy Stauffer (2), Megan Sanger (L), Jamie Banks (L)