FLORENCE, SC – Middle blocker Kalee Peter registered 10 kills, six blocks, and a .526 hitting percentage to help power Francis Marion University to a three-set sweep (25-18, 25-18, 25-11) over visiting Barton College, Saturday afternoon (Oct. 15) in Conference Carolinas volleyball action.
 
Francis Marion improves to 11-8 overall and 6-4 in league play.  The Patriots will host Southern Wesleyan University on Monday night at 6 p.m. in a contest that was postponed earlier this season by Hurricane Ian.  Admission is free.
 
Peter collected her 10 kills on only 19 swings and did not commit an attacking error.  Outside hitter Lexi Albright tallied nine kills and 13 digs, while Kayla Clayworth added eight kills on only 16 swings.
 
Setter Kaylee Gillespie again directed the Patriot offense with 32 assists, while serving three aces and recording five blocks.  Defensive specialist Katie Floyd and libero Zoie Larkins recorded 12 and 11 digs respectively.
 
The Patriots trailed by as many as six points in the opening set, including at 10-4, but rallied to knot the score at 11-11. Francis Marion broke a 15-15 deadlock with two consecutive points, including a service ace by Keely Mclain.  FMU ended the set with a 7-1 spurt.
 
The second set featured nine ties and five lead changes.  FMU trailed 15-12, but responded with 7-1 run and then closed the set by scoring the final six points.  FMU opened the third set with five straight points and never trailed.
 

 
Francis Marion Univ. def. Barton 25-18,25-18,25-11
 
Barton (4-13,3-7 Conference) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Allison Gambill
8-0-1; Kate Lawrence 5-0-1; Sarah Burton 5-2-1; Lily Haaga 4-0-2;
Sarah Wicker 2-0-3; Caroline Schoonover 1-0-0; Brooke Clute 1-0-0;
Madison Greene 1-1-0; Lilly Meyer 0-1-0; Hailey Strey 0-1-0; Totals
27-5-5.0. (Assists) - Sadie Hill 12; Madison Greene 11. (Dig leaders)
- Brooke Clute 19; Madison Greene 8
 
Francis Marion Univ. (11-8,6-4 Conference) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Kalee
Peter 10-0-6; Lexi Albright 9-0-1; Kayla Clayworth 8-0-0; Caroline
Lucas 7-0-1; De'Asia Hill 3-0-0; Kaylee Gillespie 2-3-5; Keely Mclain
1-1-0; Lily Walton 1-0-0; Katie Kemp 1-0-0; Meghan Scharpenberg 0-0-1;
Zoie Larkins 0-1-0; Katie Floyd 0-2-0; Totals 42-7-7.0. (Assists) -
Kaylee Gillespie 32. (Dig leaders) - Lexi Albright 13; Katie Floyd 12;
Zoie Larkins 11; Keely Mclain 8
 
Site: Florence, SC (Smith University Cen)
Date: 10/15/22       Attend: 112   Time: 1:20