GREENWOOD, SC – Freshman hitter Lexi Albright hammered out a career-high 14 kills and recorded 11 digs to lead Francis Marion University to a season-ending three-game sweep (25-10, 27-25, 25-17) of Lander University, Saturday afternoon (April 17) in Peach Belt Conference volleyball action.
 
The Patriots conclude their covid-delayed 2020 campaign with a 5-9 record. FMU was able to play all its scheduled matches without any cancellations or pauses due to the covid-19 virus.
 
Albright posted her fourth double-double of the season despite missing three matches (and parts of two others) with an injury.  Senior Kayla Arthur and junior Alyssa Hansen both added nine kills, with Arthur registering a .444 hitting percentage on 18 swings.  Hansen totaled a team-high four blocks.
 
Patriot freshman setter Kaylee Gillespie dished out 35 assists and dug up eight balls, while junior libero Alexis Watts posted a match-high 20 digs, her fourth match of at least 20 digs this season.
 
Christina Aguayo and Deona Mims had 10 kills apiece to lead Lander (3-11), with setter Madilyn Reed tallying 22 assists and 13 digs.
 
FMU hit .417 as a team in the opening set.  The Patriots scored the opening three points and never trailed, eventually opening a 20-5 advantage.
 
The second set was much different as it featured 10 ties.  With Gillespie serving, Francis Marion ran off five straight points to break a 10-10 deadlock.  The margin would grow to 21-13 after a Lander attacking error.  However, the Bearcats rallied with an 11-3 spurt to knot the set at 24-24.  Later tied at 25-25, FMU used kills by Albright and Hansen to win the set.
 
FMU never trailed in the final set despite a couple of early ties.  Lander closed to within a point on several occasions, the latest at 17-16.  The Patriots responded by recording eight of the final nine points – including a pair of kills by Albright and two service aces from Hansen.
 
Francis Marion Univ. def. Lander University 25-10,27-25,25-17
 
Francis Marion Univ. (5-9, 5-9) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Lexi Albright
14-0-0; Kayla Arthur 9-0-1; Alyssa Hansen 9-2-4; Kathryn Yatooma
5-0-2; Lily Walton 3-0-2; Alexis Watts 1-1-0; Kaylee Gillespie 1-0-0;
Keely McLain 0-1-0; Totals 42-4-7.0. (Assists) - Kaylee Gillespie 35.
(Dig leaders) - Alexis Watts 20; Lexi Albright 11; Alyssa Hansen 10;
Keely McLain 9; Kaylee Gillespie 8
 
Lander University (3-11, 3-11) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Deona Mims
10-0-1; Christina Aguayo 10-0-1; Maya Walker 2-0-3; Madison Smith
1-0-1; Olivia Dow 1-0-2; McCayla Willingham 0-0-1; Emma Efird 0-1-0;
Maddie Moss 0-1-0; Hallie Huth 0-1-0; Madilyn Reed 0-1-0; Maddie Reed
0-1-0; Totals 24-5-5.0. (Assists) - Madilyn Reed 22. (Dig leaders) -
Maddie Reed 16; Madilyn Reed 13; Christina Aguayo 10; Hallie Huth 10
 
Site: Finis Horne Arena  
Date: 4/17/2021      Attend: 134   Time: 1:32   
Referees: Joy Stauffer, Suzanne Dodd