FLORENCE, SC – Despite 10 kills from middle blocker Caroline Lucas and another double double by setter Kaylee Gillespie, Francis Marion University lost a 3-0 decision (25-23, 25-21, 25-18) to visiting North Greenville University, Friday evening (Oct. 28) in Conference Carolinas volleyball play.
 
Francis Marion (13-11, 8-7) will celebrate Senior Day on Saturday (Oct. 29) when the Patriots entertain Belmont Abbey College at 2 p.m.  Admission is free.  Prior to the first serve, FMU will recognize its one senior for 2022, outside hitter Gracie Davis.
 
Kaylee Peter and Lexi Albright followed Lucas with seven kills apiece.  Lucas and Lily Walton led FMU with three blocks each.
 
Gillespie tallied 24 assists and 14 digs.  The Pickens native pulled to within three assists of Melissa Hennessy's total of 2,209 for fourth place on the FMU career list.
 
Patriot libero Zoie Larkins also dug up 14 balls, while serving two aces.
 
Abigail Durham paced NGU (19-9, 14-2) with 12 kills and six digs.
 
The tightly-fought opening set featured six ties and five lead changes.  A kill by Kayla Clayworth gave the Patriots a 23-22 advantage, but the Crusaders ran off the next three points to take the set.
 
Francis Marion trailed by as many as six points in the second set, but rallied to within 22-21 after a kill by Walton.  However, again NGU rattled off the final three points to take a 2-0 match lead.
 
FMU claimed a 10-7 lead midway through the third set before North Greenville rallied with a 9-2 spurt.  The Patriots crept to as close as 16-14, but the Crusaders registered eight consecutive points en route to the match-clinching victory.
 


North Greenville def. Francis Marion Univ. 25-23,25-21,25-18
 
North Greenville (19-9,14-2 Conference) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Durham,
Abigail 12-1-1; Campbell, Paige 9-1-2; Morrell, Chandler 8-0-4; Davis,
Kelli 5-0-0; Santiago, Nicole 2-0-0; Lancaster, Emmie 1-0-1; Holford,
Ashlyn 0-0-2; Turner, Sami 0-1-0; Pyke, Abby 0-1-0; Kahler, Whitley
0-1-0; Conner, Ashlyn 0-3-0; Totals 37-8-5.0. (Assists) - Conner,
Ashlyn 32. (Dig leaders) - Kahler, Whitley 20; Conner, Ashlyn 10
 
Francis Marion Univ. (13-11,8-7 Conference) (Kills-aces-blocks) -
Caroline Lucas 10-0-3; Kalee Peter 7-0-2; Lexi Albright 7-0-2; Lily
Walton 4-0-3; Katie Kemp 3-0-0; Kayla Clayworth 1-0-0; Kaylee
Gillespie 1-0-2; Beyonce Andrews 1-0-1; Meghan Scharpenberg 0-1-0;
Zoie Larkins 0-2-0; Totals 34-3-7.0. (Assists) - Kaylee Gillespie 24.
(Dig leaders) - Kaylee Gillespie 14; Zoie Larkins 14; Meghan
Scharpenberg 9
 
Site: Florence, SC (Smith University Cen)
Date: 10/28/22       Attend: 193   Time: 1:39