FLORENCE, SC – Sophomore hitter Gracie Davis registered a double-double with 10 kills and 10 digs, but Francis Marion University lost to UNC Pembroke 25-22, 25-16, 26-24 on Tuesday night (April 6) in Peach Belt Conference volleyball action.
 
Francis Marion (3-6, 3-6) will host a pair of matches this weekend: Friday at 6 p.m. against Georgia College and Saturday at 3 p.m. against Flagler College.  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.
 
In addition to her kill and dig totals, Davis (a Myrtle Beach native) also served two aces and handled all 25 of her serve receptions flawlessly.  Senior Kayla Arthur added eight kills and two blocks, while freshman setter Kaylee Gillespie dished out 32 assists, served a pair of aces, and dug up 12 balls for her second double-double of the season.
 
FMU junior libero Alexi Watts also recorded 12 digs.
 
Shannon Skryd led UNCP (6-5, 6-5) with 11 kills and four blocks, while setter Morgan Gibbs tallied 13 assists and 12 digs.
 
In the opening set, FMU took a 16-11 advantage after a kill by junior Alyssa Hansen.  However, the Braves rallied to knot the score at 17-17, and then snapped a 19-19 deadlock with a 4-0 spurt. A kill by Arthur gave the Patriots an early 4-3 lead in set two, but UNCP rattled off eight consecutive points and never trailed again en route to the 25-16 win.
 
The third set featured 14 ties and three lead changes.  A kill from junior middleblocker Lily Walton and an attacking error by the Braves got the Patriots even at 24-24, but UNCP earned the win with a kill and an attacking error by FMU.
 
This marked the 90th all-time meeting between the two I-95 rivals.  FMU leads the series 55-35.

 
 
UNC Pembroke def. Francis Marion Univ. 25-22,25-16,26-24
 
UNC Pembroke (6-5,6-5 Peach Belt) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Skryd, Shannon
11-0-4; Crowder, Kaila 9-0-1; O'Donnell, Erin 8-0-7; Tankersley, April
6-0-2; Warren, Brianna 4-1-4; Hicks, Elly 3-0-4; Gibbs, Morgan 1-0-0;
Pressley, Katie 0-1-0; Totals 42-2-11.0. (Assists) - Pressley, Katie
19; Gibbs, Morgan 13. (Dig leaders) - Gibbs, Morgan 12; Martin, Elise
10; Pressley, Katie 9
 
Francis Marion Univ. (3-6,3-6 Peach Belt) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Gracie
Davis 10-2-0; Kayla Arthur 8-0-2; Lexi Albright 5-0-0; Lily Walton
5-0-2; Iyanla Thigpen 3-0-0; Alyssa Hansen 3-0-0; Brittany Sehnke
2-0-1; Kathryn Yatooma 1-0-0; Courtney Abdur-Rahim 0-2-0; Alexis Watts
0-1-0; Kaylee Gillespie 0-2-1; Totals 37-7-4.0. (Assists) - Kaylee
Gillespie 32. (Dig leaders) - Kaylee Gillespie 12; Alexis Watts 12;
Gracie Davis 10
 
Site: Florence, SC (Smith University Cen)
Date: 04/06/21       Attend: 86   Time: 0:3
Referees: Tony Hill (R1), Morgan Shannon (R2), Dan Jampole (L), Rhonda Groves (L)