AIKEN, SC – Francis Marion University lost a pair of hard-fought matches – 3-1 to Lander University and 3-2 to Augusta University – Friday (Sept. 2) on the opening day of the Pacer Invitational Volleyball Tournament in Aiken.
 
On Saturday, Francis Marion (3-2) will face Carson-Newman University at 10 a.m. and the host USC Aiken squad at 12:30 p.m.
 
In a 21-25, 25-14, 25-19, 25-21 loss to Lander (2-2), middleblocker Lily Walton paced FMU with nine kills, while middleblocker Kalee Peter registered eight kills on only 16 swings.  Caroline Lucas added six kills.
 
Setter Kaylee Gillespie tallied 23 assists, 11 digs, and two service aces, while libero Zoie Larkins dug up a team-high 12 balls.
 
Three kills from Peters and a stymie defense helped FMU win the opening set 25-21, but Lander rallied to win the next three sets to capture the victory.
 
FMU returned to the court later Friday and rallied from a 2-0 deficit to force a fifth and deciding set before falling 25-23, 25-20, 23-25, 23-25, 15-12 to Augusta.
 
Outside hitter Lexi Albright led Francis Marion with 18 kills, 13 digs, and four blocks, while Walton recorded 12 kills and five blocks and Lucas 10 kills and five blocks.
 
Gillespie dished out 42 assists, dug up 17 ball, and served three aces, while Larkins had a team-high 21 digs.
 
After dropping the first two sets, the Patriots rallied behind six kills from Albright to win the third set, which Peter finished with a kill.
 
The score was knotted at 23-23 in the fourth set when FMU took advantage of a bad set and an attacking error by the Jaguars to capture a 25-23 win.
 
The Patriots led twice early, 1-0 and 2-1, in the fifth set, but Augusta took the lead for good at 4-3 and went on to the 15-12 win. 
 
Altogether, the match featured 30 ties and 17 lead changes.
 
 
 
Lander def. Francis Marion Univ. 21-25,25-14,25-19,25-21
 
Francis Marion Univ. (3-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Lily
Walton 9-0-0; Kalee Peter 8-0-0; Caroline Lucas 6-0-0; Katie Kemp
5-0-0; Gracie Davis 4-0-0; Kaylee Gillespie 2-2-1; Lexi Albright
2-2-0; De'Asia Hill 2-0-1; Keely Mclain 0-1-0; Totals 38-5-2.0.
(Assists) - Kaylee Gillespie 23. (Dig leaders) - Zoie Larkins 12;
Kaylee Gillespie 11; Lexi Albright 8; Keely Mclain 8
 
Lander (2-2) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Miller, Katie
25-3-1; Aguayo, Christina 11-1-2; Michael, Halle 10-1-0; Walker, Maya
7-1-2; Reed, Madilyn 3-1-0; Pantoja, Patricia 2-2-0; Willingham,
McCayla 1-0-0; Moss, Maddie 0-1-0; Totals 59-10-3.0. (Assists) - Reed,
Madilyn 44. (Dig leaders) - Aguayo, Christina 20; Pantoja, Patricia
19; Michael, Halle 8
 
Site: Graniteville, SC (Convocation Center)
Date: 09/02/22       Attend:     Time: 1:52   
 
Augusta def. Francis Marion Univ. 25-23,25-20,23-25,23-25,15-12
 
Francis Marion Univ. (3-2,0-0 Conference C) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Lexi
Albright 18-0-4; Lily Walton 12-0-5; Caroline Lucas 10-0-5; Katie Kemp
5-0-0; Kalee Peter 4-0-2; Gracie Davis 3-0-1; Kaylee Gillespie 0-3-5;
Katie Floyd 0-1-0; Totals 52-4-16.0. (Assists) - Kaylee Gillespie 42.
(Dig leaders) - Zoie Larkins 21; Kaylee Gillespie 17; Katie Floyd 13;
Lexi Albright 13; Keely Mclain 8
 
Augusta (3-2,0-0 Peach Belt) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Wheeler, Jazmyn
23-3-3; Jerome, Jordan 10-0-4; Suguturaga, Jada 8-0-2; Diaz-Infante,
Alexis 7-0-1; Levines, Abigail 7-0-3; Cleaver, Kayli 4-0-0; Eden,
Madelyn 4-0-1; Breeden, Abigail 0-3-0; Zittrauer, Samantha 0-1-0;
Luna, Dariana 0-1-0; Barr, Kiera 0-1-0; Totals 63-9-12.0. (Assists) -
Breeden, Abigail 25; Zittrauer, Samantha 24. (Dig leaders) - Barr,
Kiera 28; Wheeler, Jazmyn 23; Luna, Dariana 15; Zittrauer, Samantha 14
 
Site: Graniteville, SC (Convocation Center)
Site: 09/02/22       Attend:     Time: 2:26