FRANKLIN SPRINGS, GA – The Francis Marion University volleyball team fell in a five-set thriller (25-27,25-12,16-25,25-16,15-8) to Emmanuel University on Friday (Oct. 13), despite 16 kills from junior outside hitter Kara Walker.
 
The Patriots (10-11, 6-2) will play at Young Harris College at 2 p.m. on Saturday (Oct. 14) to continue their league play.
 
Walker's kill total came with a .231 hitting percentage, and she added nine digs.  Freshman outside hitter Madilyn Gartner registered 13 kills to follow Walker, while junior middle blocker Kaytlin Smart chipped in nine kills and four blocks.
 
Senior setter Kaylee Gillespie tallied 40 assists, 19 digs, and four service aces, while freshman libero Ella Quiring posted 21 digs.
 
Alaina Emminger paced Emmanuel (11-8, 7-3) with 19 kills.
 
In the opening set, FMU raced to a 9-1 advantage, only to have the Lions rallied to take a 15-13 lead.  Kills by Walker and Smart later snapped a 25-25 deadlock and allowed the Patriots to take the early lead.  The second set was tied at 4-4 when Emmanuel used an 18-5 run to even the match at one set apiece.
 
The Patriots never trailed in the third set, scoring 11 of the final 15 points to record a 25-16 victory.  The fourth set was even at 15-15, but the Lions closed with a 10-1 spurt to force a deciding fifth set.
 
The final set was tied at 1-1 and 2-2, but a later 5-0 spurt helped the Lions claim the clinching set.
 
 
Emmanuel (GA) def. Francis Marion Univ. 25-27,25-12,16-25,25-16,15-8
 
Francis Marion Univ. (10-11, 6-2) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Kara
Walker 16-2-2; Madilyn Gartner 13-0-1; Kaytlin Smart 9-0-4; Caroline
Lucas 5-0-4; Mo Grigsby 5-0-1; Kaylee Gillespie 0-4-0; Totals
48-6-7.0. (Assists) - Kaylee Gillespie 40. (Dig leaders) - Ella
Quiring 21; Kaylee Gillespie 19; Madilyn Gartner 14; Kara Walker 9
 
Emmanuel (GA) (11-8, 7-3) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Emminger,
Alaina 19-0-2; Hanson, Emily 12-0-1; Johns, Ella 10-0-1; Bigelow,
Brianna 5-0-4; Jackson, Ellie 5-5-0; Dibene, Samantha 3-1-2; Martin,
Jocelyn 1-0-0; McGlamery, Rachel 1-3-0; McGlamery, Gabrielle 1-3-1;
Marshall, Amore 0-2-0; Totals 57-14-8.0. (Assists) - McGlamery,
Gabrielle 43. (Dig leaders) - Queen, Asia 21; McGlamery, Gabrielle 14;
McGlamery, Rachel 12; Marshall, Amore 8
 
Site: Franklin Springs, GA (Shaw Athletic Center)
Date: 10/13/23       Attend: 120   Time: 2:11