MURFREESBORO, NC – A trio of frontline players combined for 42 kills and a .535 hitting percentage to power Francis Marion University to a quick 25-16, 25-13, 25-14 sweep of Chowan University, Tuesday night (Nov. 1) in Conference Carolinas volleyball action.
 
Francis Marion concludes its regular season 15-11 overall and 10-7 in conference play, good for a third-place finish in the East Division.  The Patriots will host a Conference Carolinas Tournament match on Saturday at 5 p.m. against the Chowan/Barton College winner.
 
Middleblocker Caroline Lucas registered a career-high 17 kills with only two errors on 29 total swings, while fellow middle Kalee Peter recorded 15 kills with two errors on 25 swings.  Outside hitter Katie Kemp added 10 kills with no errors on 17 swings.
 
Led by that trio, the Patriots produced a .379 team hitting percentage, the highest single-match figure in 11 seasons.
 
Peter also chipped in five blocks and served two aces.  FMU setter Kaylee Gillespie dished out 41 assists and posted four blocks, while libero Katie Floyd dug up a team-high 14 balls.  Lexi Albright chipped in 13 digs, five service aces, and two kills.
 
Madison Hill and Anixa Rosa-Martinez led the Hawks (9-19, 6-11) with six kills apiece.
 
FMU trailed briefly at the outset of the opening set, but erased a 6-5 deficit with a 6-0 spurt.  The Patriots trailed 5-3 early in set No.2, but scored 19 of the next 21 points to race to a 22-7 advantage.
 
Francis Marion never trailed in the third set.  FMU broke a 6-6 deadlock with a 10-2 spurt.
 
 
Francis Marion Univ. def. Chowan 25-16,25-13,25-14
 
Francis Marion Univ. (15-11 (10-7)) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Caroline
Lucas 17-0-2; Kalee Peter 15-2-5; Katie Kemp 10-0-0; Lexi Albright
2-5-1; Lily Walton 1-0-0; Kaylee Gillespie 1-0-4; Totals 46-7-7.0.
(Assists) - Kaylee Gillespie 41. (Dig leaders) - Katie Floyd 14; Lexi
Albright 13; Zoie Larkins 10
 
Chowan (9-19 (6-11)) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Anixa Rosa-Martinez 6-1-0;
Madison Hall 6-0-0; Ellie Middleton 5-0-1; Chloe Putnam 4-0-1; Nia
Baskin 3-0-1; Brianna Moye 2-0-0; Haydon Ahlers 1-0-0; Nyah Powers
0-0-1; Hadley Prince 0-1-0; Totals 27-2-2.0. (Assists) - Alexa Woolson
15; Morgan Tucker 10. (Dig leaders) - Hadley Prince 19; Anixa
Rosa-Martinez 9; Ellie Middleton 8
 
Site: Murfreesboro, N.C. (Hawks Ath. Center)
Date: Nov 01, 2022   Attend: 56   Time: 1:02