FLORENCE, S.C. – A trio of Patriots registered nine kills each to propel Francis Marion University to a 25-10, 25-18, 25-12 sweep of visiting Southern Wesleyan University, Monday night (Oct. 17) in Conference Carolinas volleyball action.
 
FMU improves to 12-8 overall and bumps its conference mark to 7-4, while SWU drops to 3-18 and 1-11. The Patriots will return to action on the road Wednesday (Oct. 19) when they visit the University of Mount Olive at 6 p.m.
 
FMU setters Kaylee Gillespie and Meghan Scharpenberg guided the Francis Marion offense as Gillespie handed out 24 assists and Scharpenberg dished out 12.  The Boiling Springs native also posted two aces with no service errors on 12 serves. 
 
Middle blockers Lily Walton and Kalee Peter along with outside hitter Katie Kemp each grabbed nine kills. Walton posted her nine kills on only 19 swings with a .421 hitting percentage.
 
Patriot libero Zoie Larkins and outside hitter Lexi Albright dug up 12 balls each, while Albright led the squad with three service aces.
 
As a team, Francis Marion had a season-best .348 hitting percentage, while holding the Warriors to just .044.
 
FMU led by as many as 15 in the opening set, with Scharpenberg collecting the clinching point on a service ace.  A tight set No.2 made things difficult for FMU but they answered back by taking the last three points of the set for a Patriots' 25-18 win. Francis Marion never trailed after the Warriors grabbed the first point. An 6-0 run helped the Patriots to an eventual 16-6 advantage, ultimately leading to a 25-12 finish after the clinching point from outside hitter Kayla Clayworth's kill.