DUE WEST, SC – A new day dawned on the season-opening Erskine College Volleyball Tournament, and Francis Marion University opened it with an early-morning 3-1 win (25-20, 20-25, 25-19, 25-17) over Georgia College on Saturday (Sept. 4).  The Patriots (1-2) will return to the court for their final match of the two-day event at 2 p.m. this afternoon against the University of West Georgia.
 
Senior middle blocker Iyanla Thigpen led the Patriots with 16 kills and a .400 hitting percentage.  Junior Gracie Davis added 10 kills to a balanced FMU attacked that also saw fifth-year senior Kayla Arthur post nine kills and three blocks, while seniors Lily Walton and Alyssa Hansen both pounded down eight kills.  Walton recorded a team-high four blocks.
 
FMU sophomore setter Kaylee Gillespie tallied 47 assists and 11 digs – here third double-double in as many matches – while freshman libero Zoie Larkins registered 13 digs and served four aces.
 
Ally Hall led Georgia College with 16 kills, while Lauren Talele handed out 33 assists.
 
In the opening set, Francis Marion led by a narrow 20-19 margin, but used a pair of kills from Davis and one each from Gillespie and Arthur to capture the victory.  After the Bobcats evened the match by winning set two, FMU found itself trailing 14-13 in the third game.  Kills from sophomore Lexi Albright and Hansen and two service aces by Larkins propelled a 5-0 spurt that put the Patriots up for good en route to the 25-19 win.
 
In the final set, Francis Marion took the lead for good at 9-8 after a Georgia College service error, and then Arthur served an ace to put FMU up 10-8.  The Patriots would grow the margin to 19-12 before clinching the match with a Bobcat attack error at match point caused by a Thigpen/Walton block.
 
 
Francis Marion Univ. def. Georgia College 25-20,20-25,25-19,25-17
 
Georgia College (0-3,0-0 Peach Belt) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Hall, Ally
16-1-0; Mangan, Sarah 12-1-2; Kotzin, Mary Kate 4-0-3; Stewart, Sarah
3-0-1; Talele, Lauren 2-0-0; Miller, Callie 2-2-2; DeSalvo, Bella
0-1-0; Overly, Morgan 0-2-0; Totals 39-7-5.0. (Assists) - Talele,
Lauren 33. (Dig leaders) - DeSalvo, Bella 14; Overly, Morgan 8
 
Francis Marion Univ. (1-2,0-0 Conference C) (Kills-aces-blocks) -
Iyanla Thigpen 16-0-2; Gracie Davis 10-0-1; Kayla Arthur 9-1-3; Alyssa
Hansen 8-0-1; Lily Walton 8-0-4; Lexi Albright 5-0-0; Kaylee Gillespie
3-2-0; Naina Ivanova 0-2-0; Zoie Larkins 0-4-0; Totals 59-9-6.5.
(Assists) - Kaylee Gillespie 47. (Dig leaders) - Zoie Larkins 13;
Kaylee Gillespie 11; Lexi Albright 10
 
Site: Due West, SC (Galloway Center)                    
Date: 09/04/21       Attend: 26   Time: 1:42