BANNER ELK, NC – The reigning Conference Carolinas Freshmen of the Month Katie Kemp posted a team-high 14 kills and a .462 hitting percentage to steer the Francis Marion University offense as the Patriots swept a Conference Carolinas volleyball match from Lees-McRae College 25-19, 31-29, 25-16, Friday night (Oct. 7).
 
FMU improves to 9-7 overall and rises above .500 in conference play at 4-3. The Patriots will visit King University (Tenn.) tomorrow, Saturday (Oct. 8) at 2 p.m.
 
Patriot middle blockers Caroline Lucas and Beyonce Andrews smashed eight kills respectively. Lucas served a team-high three aces and had three blocks, while Andrews also posted five blocks.
 
Libero Zoie Larkins led the Patriots with 14 digs, while FMU setter Kaylee Gillespie dished out 32 assists, dug up six balls, and added four blocks.
 
Outside hitter Lexi Albright hammered seven kills and dug up eight balls for FMU as well. 
 
Annalaine Tew led Lees-McRae (4-15, 3-6) with 12 kills, while outside hitter Sydney Stigler registered 11 kills.
 
In the first set, the Bobcats led by four at 14-10, but FMU would come out of a timeout fiery by going on a 6-0 run to lead 16-14. Gillespie and Andrews would account for three blocks together during the 6-0 run. The Patriots would not trail for the rest of the set with Lucas pounding out a kill to account for point 25.
 
The Patriots led by as much as seven points in the second set, but the Bobcats would claw back late in the set and even the score at 21-21. Two errors from the Bobcats would push the Patriots ahead 23-21, but Lees McRae's Sydney Stigler would cut the lead to one with a kill. A kill from Andrews gave FMU the set point with a 24-22 lead, but the Bobcats would fight back again to bring the score to 24-24. After a back-and-forth battle, the Patriots trailed 29-28 but would grab the last three points to escape the second set victorious.
 
The third set opened with the Bobcats roaring to a 9-2 lead. Francis Marion cut the deficit to four after an attack error from the Bobcats. LMC jumped back to a six-point lead (14-8), but FMU would start a run of their own with eight straight points to lead 16-14. The Patriots rattled off nine of the match's final 10 points, including the final point being a block by Lucas.
 
 
Francis Marion Univ. def. Lees-McRae 25-19,31-29,25-16
 
Francis Marion Univ. (9-7,4-3 Conference C) (Kills-aces-blocks) -
Katie Kemp 14-1-0; Beyonce Andrews 8-0-5; Caroline Lucas 8-3-3; Lexi
Albright 7-1-1; Kaylee Gillespie 4-0-4; De'Asia Hill 0-0-1; Katie
Floyd 0-2-0; Zoie Larkins 0-1-0; Totals 41-8-8.0. (Assists) - Kaylee
Gillespie 32. (Dig leaders) - Zoie Larkins 14; Lexi Albright 8
 
Lees-McRae (4-15,3-6 Conference) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Tew, Annalaine
12-0-0; Stigler, Sydney 11-1-0; Holley, Destiny 6-0-1; Gilreath,
Hailey 3-0-1; Ryan, Rebecca 1-0-1; Goins, Madison 0-0-1; Chun, Mahea
0-2-0; Adamson, Bre 0-3-0; Totals 33-6-2.0. (Assists) - Goins, Madison
27. (Dig leaders) - Stigler, Sydney 9; Adamson, Bre 8
 
Site: Banner Elk, NC (Williams Gymnasium)
Date: 10/07/22       Attend: 147   Time: 1:25