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).
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
 
Francis Marion Univ. def. Barton 25-21,25-22,25-22
 
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
 
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
 
Site: Wilson, N.C. (Wilson Gymnasium)
Date: Sep 22, 2021   Attend: 175   Time: 1:30   
Referees: Glenn Horton, David Bryant
Line judges: Rachel Wiewick, Dan Riley