AIKEN, SC – Seniors Iyanla Thigpen and Lily Walton each pounded out 11 kills to help Francis Marion University to a come-from-behind 19-25, 25-13, 17-25, 25-19, 15-11 win over Lander University in first-day action of the Pacer Invitational Volleyball Tournament on Friday (Sept. 10).
 
Later on Friday afternoon at 4:30 p.m., Francis Marion (2-3) will play Augusta University.
 
Sophomore setter Kaylee Gillespie dished out 36 assists and dug up 11 balls to record her fifth consecutive double-double.  She also served two aces.  Fellow sophomore Lexi Albright registered eight kills, a team-high 19 digs, and three aces, while senior Alyssa Hansen had six kills, 13 digs, and five blocks.  Thigpen chipped in four blocks and freshman libero Zoie Larkins had 10 digs.
 
After dropping the third set to fall behind 2-1, the Patriots came out hot in the fourth set.  FMU jumped to a 4-0 lead that grew to 7-1, and then 10-2, and later 17-6 after a service ace by fifth-year senior Kayla Arthur.  The Patriots would go on to claim the 25-19 victory that forced a fifth set.
 
The deciding set featured eight ties, the final at 11-11.  A bad set by the Bearcats put FMU on top 12-11.  An ace by Albright and two Lander attack errors gave Francis Marion the win over one of its oldest rivals.
 
 
Francis Marion Univ. def. Lander 19-25,25-13,17-25,25-19,15-11
 
Francis Marion Univ. (2-3) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Lily Walton 11-0-2;
Iyanla Thigpen 11-0-4; Lexi Albright 8-3-0; Alyssa Hansen 6-0-5;
Kaylee Gillespie 3-2-0; Gracie Davis 3-0-1; Kayla Arthur 3-2-3; Naina
Ivanova 0-1-0; Zoie Larkins 0-1-0; Totals 45-9-9.0. (Assists) - Kaylee
Gillespie 36. (Dig leaders) - Lexi Albright 19; Alyssa Hansen 13;
Kaylee Gillespie 11; Zoie Larkins 10
 
Lander (1-4) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Christina Aguayo 17-3-1; Maya
Walker 14-1-1; Sydney Bellamy 12-0-2; D. De Carvalho Peixe 3-0-5;
Madilyn Reed 2-1-1; Nadia Carter 1-0-0; Miranda Hardin 0-1-0; Ashlan
Glasgow 0-4-0; Patricia Pantoja 0-2-1; Totals 49-12-6.0. (Assists) -
Madilyn Reed 42. (Dig leaders) - Christina Aguayo 24; Patricia Pantoja
18; Ashlan Glasgow 10; Miranda Hardin 9
 
Site: Aiken, SC (USCA Convocatin Cent)
Date: Sep 10, 2021   Attend: 54   Time: 2:10   
Referees: Steve Burinsky, Joy Stauffer
Line judges: John Ingram, B. Lyons-Daniels