Francis Marion University Athletics

AIKEN, SC - Francis Marion began a three-match road swing this week by losing to USC Aiken in three sets (25-19, 25-18, 25-22), Tuesday evening (Oct. 10) in non-conference volleyball action.

Francis Marion (10-10) will return to Conference Carolinas play this weekend with road contests at Emmanuel University on Friday at 7 p.m. and at Young Harris College on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Junior outside hitter Kara Walker led the Patriots with nine kills, while freshman Madilyn Gartner tallied seven kills.

Senior setter Kaylee Gillespie recorded a double-double with 20 assists, 11 digs, and two service aces.  Sophomore libero Katie Floyd paced the FMU defense with 14 digs.

Emily Lammers led the Pacers (12-4) with 15 kills, seven digs, and four service aces.

A pair of 5-0 spurts by USCA midway through the opening set led to the Pacers' 25-19 win.  In the second set, Francis Marion led early 3-0 and later 13-8, before a 7-0 run by the Pacers erased the FMU advantage.  The Patriots would tie the match at 15-15, but USCA registered the next two points en route to the 25-18 victory.  The Pacers scored the first three points of the third and final set and would never trail.  FMU did keep the score close at 22-20, before falling 25-22.


USC Aiken def. Francis Marion Univ. 25-19,25-18,25-22
 
Francis Marion Univ. (10-10) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Kara Walker 9-1-0;
Madilyn Gartner 7-0-1; Caroline Lucas 5-0-3; Mo Grigsby 5-0-3; Kaylee
Gillespie 2-2-2; Kaytlin Smart 2-0-2; Totals 30-3-6.0. (Assists) -
Kaylee Gillespie 20. (Dig leaders) - Katie Floyd 14; Kaylee Gillespie
11; Madilyn Gartner 9
 
USC Aiken (12-4) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Emily Lammers 15-4-1; Sadie
McKay 7-2-1; Sophie Meredith 5-2-0; Anna Sommer 5-0-0; Gyongyver
Araczki 4-2-4; Lexi Rogers 4-0-2; Kari Mercer 0-2-0; Totals 40-12-4.0.
(Assists) - Sophie Meredith 31. (Dig leaders) - Kari Mercer 18; Lexi
Rogers 9; Sadie McKay 8
 
Site: Aiken, S.C. (Convocation Center)
Date: Oct 10, 2023   Attend: 232   Time: 1:19