WILSON NC – Graduate student setter
Naina Ivanova registered 27 assists, five service aces, and eight digs to help Francis Marion University win its first-ever Conference Carolinas match 25-21, 25-22, 25-22 over Barton College, Wednesday evening (Sept. 22).
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FMU (5-8, 1-0) will continue Conference Carolinas play on Friday (Sept. 24) with a 6 p.m. home match against the University of Mount Olive. The Patriots will also host Chowan University on Saturday at 2 p.m.
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In the victory over Barton, fifth-year outside hitter
Kayla Arthur registered six kills with a team-high .462 hitting percentage and a pair of service aces. Sophomore outside hitter
Lexi Albright added nine kills (on only 16 swings) and seven digs, while freshmen libero
Zoie Larkins tallied 13 digs and four assists.
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The FMU defense held the Bulldogs to a .196 team hitting percentage while recording a .202 hitting percentage. FMU junior outside hitter
Gracie Davis chipped in with seven kills and two total blocks.
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In the third set of the match, FMU led 24-14 looking to close out the match. After FMU tallied their 24th point, Barton scored eight points and got within two, before senior middle blocker
Iyanla Thigpen ended the contest with a kill.
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Francis Marion Univ. def. Barton 25-21,25-22,25-22
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Francis Marion Univ. (5-8, 1-0 CC) (Kills-aces-blocks) -
Lexi Albright
9-1-0;
Iyanla Thigpen 8-0-2;
Gracie Davis 7-0-2;
Kayla Arthur 6-2-1;
Lily Walton 3-0-1;
Naina Ivanova 1-5-2;
Keely Mclain 0-2-0; Peyton
Holley 0-2-0; Totals 34-12-6.0. (Assists) -
Naina Ivanova 27. (Dig
leaders) -
Zoie Larkins 13;
Naina Ivanova 8
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Barton (3-3, 0-1 CC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Allison Gambill 12-0-1;
Lily Haaga 7-0-1; Caroline Schoonver 6-2-0; Lauryn Pitt 5-0-1; Sarah
Burton 4-0-4; Sarah Wicker 3-0-0; Sarah Kirk 3-1-1; Megan McCain
0-1-0; Totals 40-4-5.0. (Assists) - Sarah Kirk 22; Megan McCain 14.
(Dig leaders) - Brooke Clute 11; Allison Gambill 10
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Site: Wilson, N.C. (Wilson Gymnasium)
Date: Sep 22, 2021Â Â Attend: 175Â Â Time: 1:30Â Â Â
Referees: Glenn Horton, David Bryant
Line judges: Rachel Wiewick, Dan Riley
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