FLORENCE, SC – Sophomore hitter Lexi Albright registered a double-double with 15 kills and 17 digs and sophomore setter Kaylee Gillespie served the match-clinching ace as Francis Marion University rallied for a 21-25, 25-14, 19-25, 25-16, 15-12 win over the University of Mount Olive, Friday night (Sept. 24) in Conference Carolinas women's volleyball action.
 
Francis Marion remains unbeaten in conference play (2-0) and improves to 6-8 overall.  The Patriots will entertain Chowan University on Saturday at 2 p.m.  Admission is free.  All spectators are required to wear a mask.
 
Following Albright was senior hitter Lily Walton with 12 kills, a .385 hitting percentage, and three blocks.  Fifth-year senior Kayla Arthur added 10 kills as did senior middle blocker Iyanla Thigpen.  Thigpen also posted a team-high four blocks.
 
Graduate student setter Naina Ivanova handed out 40 assists and dug up nine balls.  Freshman libero Zoie Larkins recorded 23 digs, while freshman Peyton Holley had 20.
 
Ashlyn Stone led Mount Olive (5-7, 0-2) with 11 kills, while libero Morgan Prots tallied 24 digs.
 
Needing a win in the fourth set to stay alive, FMU held a slim 16-15 advantage. Arthur ignited a set-closing 9-1 spurt with a kill to force a fifth set.
 
FMU trailed 8-5 midway through the final set, and later found itself down 12-9.  Following a Trojan service error, Gillespie served out the match, including a pair of aces.  Arthur and Albright also had kills in the match-ending run.

 
 
Francis Marion Univ. def. Mount Olive 21-25,25-14,19-25,25-16,15-12
 
Mount Olive (5-7,0-2 Conference C) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Stone, Ashlyn
11-0-1; Eziakonwa, Amara 9-4-7; Sergent, Starr 7-1-2; Jackson, Alyssa
4-0-2; Papavasileiou, Nafsi 4-0-2; Williams, Ele'sia 3-0-3; Goodman,
Madison 1-2-0; Myer, Jenna 1-1-0; Prots, Morgan 0-2-0; Herman, Faith
0-3-0; Totals 40-13-9.0. (Assists) - Goodman, Madison 16; Myer, Jenna
15. (Dig leaders) - Prots, Morgan 24; Goodman, Madison 10
 
Francis Marion Univ. (5-8,1-0 Conference C) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Lexi
Albright 15-0-2; Lily Walton 12-1-3; Kayla Arthur 10-1-2; Iyanla
Thigpen 10-0-4; Alyssa Hansen 4-0-1; Gracie Davis 2-0-1; Kaylee
Gillespie 0-2-0; Naina Ivanova 0-2-1; Zoie Larkins 0-1-0; Totals
53-7-7.0. (Assists) - Naina Ivanova 40. (Dig leaders) - Zoie Larkins
23; Peyton Holley 20; Lexi Albright 17; Naina Ivanova 9
 
Site: Florence, SC (Smith University Cen)
Date: 09/24/21       Attend: 97   Time: 2:11