FLORENCE, SC – The Francis Marion University volleyball team took down Chowan University on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 21) in just three sets (25-20, 25-22, 25-17) with junior outside hitter Kara Walker leading in kills once again.
 
Francis Marion advances to a record of 11-13 overall and 7-4 in conference with its win over the Hawks (4-19, 3-10). FMU is also tied for first place in the East Division of Conference Carolinas action with UNC Pembroke.
 
The Patriots will return to the court on Wednesday (Oct. 25), hosting Barton College at 7 p.m.
 
Walker led the Patriots with 12 kills and seven digs, while both freshman Madilyn Gartner and sophomore Caroline Lucas had 11 kills apiece. With 13 digs, Gartner recorded her eighth double-double in 22 matches this season.
 
Senior setter Kaylee Gillespie handed out 39 assists against the Hawks, moving to a total of 3,215 career assists – still holding third place on the FMU all-time list.
 
Sophomore libero Katie Floyd dug up 14 digs and added two service aces. Walker and Lucas also registered two aces.
 
Ellie Middleton paced the Hawks with 10 kills and nine digs.
 
Chowan jumped out to a surprising 7-2 lead in the opening set.  The Patriots rallied to knot the score at 14-14 after a Floyd ace.  The score was later deadlocked at 19-19, but a trio of kills by Walker and a pair of Chowan attacking errors led to the 25-20 FMU victory.
 
FMU would not trail in either of the final two sets.  The second set was tied at 4-4, but Francis Marion stretched the margin to 10-6 and later 18-9 en route to the 25-22 win.  In the third set, the Patriots snapped a 1-1 tie with an 8-1 spurt to go up 9-2, and would cruise to the 25-17 clinching win.

 
 
Francis Marion Univ. def. Chowan 25-20,25-22,25-17
 
Chowan (4-19,3-10 Conference) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Middleton, Ellie
10-1-2; Ratajesak, Gigi 7-1-2; Nored, Ryan 7-0-1; Lance, Kayleigh
3-0-1; Ahlers, Haydon 3-0-0; Chadwell, Kacie 1-0-0; Ginaitt, Sydney
0-2-0; Bergling, Caleigh 0-1-0; Rodriguez, Diana 0-2-0; Totals
31-7-3.0. (Assists) - Ginaitt, Sydney 25. (Dig leaders) - Rodriguez,
Diana 18; Bergling, Caleigh 10; Middleton, Ellie 9
 
Francis Marion Univ. (11-13,7-4 Conference) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Kara
Walker 12-2-1; Madilyn Gartner 11-0-1; Caroline Lucas 11-2-2; Kaytlin
Smart 9-0-5; Camryn Faggart 3-0-2; Kaylee Gillespie 2-0-2; Katie Floyd
0-2-0; Totals 48-6-7.0. (Assists) - Kaylee Gillespie 39. (Dig leaders)
- Katie Floyd 14; Madilyn Gartner 13; Kaylee Gillespie 8; Ella Quiring 8
 
Site: Florence, SC (Pearl Moore Basketball Center)
Date: 10/21/23       Attend: 82   Time: 1:31   
Referees:  Jamal Brown, Kaona Mercer, Tony Chavis, Dewey Capps