FLORENCE, SC – Junior hitter Gracie Davis led Francis Marion University with 24 kills on the first day of the FMU Invitational Volleyball Tournament, but the Patriots dropped a pair of matches on Friday (Sept. 17) 14-25, 25-20, 25-23, 21-25, 15-11 to the University of Charleston (WV) and 25-15, 25-21, 25-14 to 19th-ranked University of West Florida.
 
The tournament will continue on Saturday in the Smith University Center with matches beginning at 9 a.m. and continuing through approximately 9 p.m.  FMU (3-7) will face Queens University of Charlotte at 1 p.m. and Gannon University at 7 p.m.  Admission is free.  All spectators are required to wear masks.
 
In the 5-set decision with Charleston, Davis pounded out a season-high 16 kills, while fifth-year senior Kayla Arthur registered 12 kills and a .357 hitting percentage.  Sophomore Lexi Albright chipped in eight kills and 12 digs. 
 
Sophomore setter Kaylee Gillespie handed out 25 assists and dug up 10 balls for her eighth double-double of 2021, while graduate student Naina Ivanova tallied 15 assists, 12 digs, and four service aces.  Freshman libero Zoie Larkins dug up 11 balls.
 
A pair of kills by Arthur in the latter stages of the fourth set allowed Francis Marion snap a 21-21 deadlock and claim a 25-21 victory and force the fifth set.  The Patriots trailed only 9-8 in the final set, but the Golden Eagles used a 5-1 spurt to eventually claim the deciding set-win.
 
Against the nationally ranked Argonauts, Davis recorded eight kills, while Arthur and Albright had six apiece.  Albright added two service aces and a team-high eight digs.  Ivanova dished out 27 assists.
 
The closely contested second set featured 15 ties and four lead changes.  UWF (9-1) scored the final five points to rally from a 21-20 deficit.
 
Charleston (WV) def. Francis Marion Univ. 14-25,25-20,25-23,21-25,15-11
 
Charleston (WV) (6-3,0-0 MEC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Beamson, Sage
16-2-0; Andrews, Beyonce 11-0-3; Thomas, Jenae 9-0-3; Damon, McKenzie
8-0-2; Carpenter , Mckenzie 8-0-3; Hernandez, Maria 0-2-1; Jackson,
Madison 0-2-0; Walter, Morgan 0-2-0; Totals 52-8-6.0. (Assists) -
Hernandez, Maria 41. (Dig leaders) - Hernandez, Maria 20; Jackson,
Madison 17; Damon, McKenzie 12; Walter, Morgan 9
 
Francis Marion Univ. (3-6,0-0 Conference C) (Kills-aces-blocks) -
Gracie Davis 16-0-0; Kayla Arthur 12-0-2; Lexi Albright 8-2-0; Alyssa
Hansen 7-0-1; Lily Walton 5-0-2; Iyanla Thigpen 5-0-1; Naina Ivanova
1-4-0; Madeline Winning 0-0-1; Kaylee Gillespie 0-1-0; Zoie Larkins
0-1-0; Totals 54-8-4.0. (Assists) - Kaylee Gillespie 25; Naina Ivanova
15. (Dig leaders) - Lexi Albright 12; Naina Ivanova 12; Zoie Larkins
11; Kaylee Gillespie 10; Peyton Holley 9; Alyssa Hansen 8
 
Site: Florence, SC (Smith University Cen)
Date: 09/17/21       Attend: 111   Time: 2:23
 
West Florida def. Francis Marion Univ. 25-15,25-21,25-14
 
West Florida (9-1,0-0 Gulf South) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Yon, Veresia
10-0-8; Zydlo, Jenna 10-0-6; Potts, Kierra 9-0-3; Fezzey, Tyler 6-0-3;
Oliver, Alex 4-0-2; Vaneekeren, Taylor 3-0-5; Cooler, Madi 2-0-0;
Barber, Stephanie 1-0-0; Brackhan, Meg 0-3-0; Marshall, Ashton 0-1-0;
Totals 45-4-14.0. (Assists) - Vaneekeren, Taylor 32. (Dig leaders) -
Vaneekeren, Taylor 9; Marshall, Ashton 8
 
Francis Marion Univ. (3-7,0-0 Conference C) (Kills-aces-blocks) -
Gracie Davis 8-0-0; Kayla Arthur 6-0-1; Lexi Albright 6-2-0; Lily
Walton 5-0-1; Iyanla Thigpen 3-0-2; Naina Ivanova 1-0-1; Alyssa Hansen
1-0-1; Keely McLain 0-1-0; Totals 30-3-3.0. (Assists) - Naina Ivanova
27. (Dig leaders) - Lexi Albright 8; Zoie Larkins 7
 
Site: Florence, SC (Smith University Cen)
Date: 09/17/21       Attend: 166   Time: 1:17