AIKEN, SC – Despite a combined 29 kills from De'Asia Hill and Caroline Lucas, Francis Marion University dropped a heart-breaking 23-25, 25-17, 26-24, 21-25, 15-12 marathon match to USC Aiken, Saturday (Sept. 3) on the final day of the Pacer Invitational Volleyball Tournament in Aiken.  Earlier in the day, FMU lost a 25-18, 25-13, 25-19 decision to Carson-Newman University.
 
Francis Marion (3-4) will play its first home match of 2022 on Friday at 7 p.m. against Fayetteville State University as part of the FMU Invitational Tournament.
 
In the contest against USCA, Hill tallied 15 kills and five blocks, while Lucas registered 14 kills, six blocks, and three service aces.  Katie Kemp added nine kills and Kayla Clayworth four kills and 16 digs.
 
Patriot setter Kaylee Gillespie dished out 46 assists, dug up 12 balls, and served three aces, while libero Zoie Larkins led the Patriots with 17 digs.
 
Francis Marion won the opening set, lost the next two, and then won the fourth set to push the contest to a fifth set.  FMU jumped to a 5-1 advantage, but USCA (6-1) answered with five straight points to go up 6-5.  The score was knotted at 6, 8, 9, and 11 before the Pacers took the lead for good at 12-11.
 
In the loss to Carson-Newman (7-1), Clayworth led the way with 10 kills and seven digs, while Lucas added six kills.  Gillespie directed the Patriot offense with 29 assists and led the defense with 11 digs, while also serving two aces.
 
 
Carson-Newman def. Francis Marion Univ. 25-18,25-13,25-19
 
Carson-Newman (7-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Julia Wheeler 17-1-1;
Emmagrace Cobb 5-0-3; Skylor Weaver 5-1-2; Taylor Adams 5-0-2; Blake
Cherry 3-3-1; Abbey Hildenbrand 3-1-1; Molly Langford 1-0-0; Paige
Bussom 1-0-0; Hayden Barton 0-1-0; Totals 40-7-5.0. (Assists) - Carlee
Allbaugh 20; Abbey Hildenbrand 17. (Dig leaders) - Hayden Barton 10;
Carlee Allbaugh 10; Blake Cherry 8
 
Francis Marion Univ. (3-3) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Kayla Clayworth
10-0-2; Caroline Lucas 6-0-2; Kalee Peter 4-0-1; De'Asia Hill 4-0-1;
Gracie Davis 4-0-0; Lexi Albright 2-0-0; Kaylee Gillespie 1-2-0;
Beyonce Andrews 1-0-0; Katie Floyd 0-1-0; Totals 32-3-3.0. (Assists) -
Kaylee Gillespie 29. (Dig leaders) - Kaylee Gillespie 11; Zoie Larkins 7
 
Site: Aiken, S.C. (Convocation Center)
Date: 9/3/2022       Attend: 138   Time: 1:12   
 
USC Aiken def. Francis Marion Univ. 23-25,25-17,26-24,21-25,15-12
 
Francis Marion Univ. (3-4) (Kills-aces-blocks) - De'Asia Hill 15-0-5;
Caroline Lucas 14-3-6; Katie Kemp 9-1-2; Lexi Albright 5-2-0; Lily
Walton 5-0-0; Kayla Clayworth 4-0-0; Kalee Peter 3-0-2; Kaylee
Gillespie 0-3-1; Totals 55-9-8.0. (Assists) - Kaylee Gillespie 46.
(Dig leaders) - Zoie Larkins 17; Kayla Clayworth 16; Kaylee Gillespie
12; Keely Mclain 8
 
USC Aiken (6-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Alisha Pitt 16-0-4; Anna Sommer
13-0-6; Emily Lammers 12-3-2; Sadie McKay 6-1-1; Mallory Barash 3-0-3;
Kaitlyn Rodriguez 3-2-2; Kaitlyn Lund 1-1-7; Kari Mercer 0-1-0; Totals
54-8-15.0. (Assists) - Caroline Foster 29; Mallory Barash 20. (Dig
leaders) - Kari Mercer 34; Sadie McKay 22; Emily Lammers 13; Kaitlyn
Rodriguez 9
 
Site: Aiken, S.C. (Convocation Center)
Date: 9/3/2022       Attend: 213   Time: 1:19