FLORENCE, SC – Senior setter Kaylee Gillespie posted a game-high 45 assists to lead Francis Marion University in its three-set sweep over Lees-McRae College on Saturday (Oct. 28). The Patriots concluded their Senior Day celebrations with a 25-21, 25-17, 25-20 victory against the Bobcats in the final regular-season home match.
 
The Patriots (14-13, 10-4) will be competing again in Pembroke, N.C., on Tuesday (Oct. 31) against UNC Pembroke to continue Conference Carolinas action in hopes of winning their fifth match in a row.
 
With Gillespie leading the offensive push during the match, freshman and junior outside hitters Madilyn Gartner and Kara Walker combined for an impressive 27 kills and 21 digs to pace Francis Marion.  Gartner tallied 13 kills and 12 digs, while Walker had 14 kills and nine digs.
 
Sophomore middle blocker Caroline Lucas tallied three blocks and was matched by junior right-side Kaitlyn Smart with three blocks.
 
Francis Marion totaled 65 digs, led by sophomore libero Katie Floyd who dished out 20 digs and freshman defensive specialist Ella Quiring closely behind with 14 digs of her own.
 
Outside hitter Sydney Stigler paced the Bobcats (12-9, 9-4) with nine kills.
 
The Patriots started off behind, down 9-7 in the first set. With a kill from Walker, the game was notched at 10-10 and Francis Marion took over with a service ace from Walker. Lucas had a pair of kills in the run that ended in a final score of 25-21.
 
Like set one, FMU began set two behind, but quickly settled into a groove and took back the lead at 8-6. Although another lead exchange occurred, the Patriots pulled together a four-point run with kills from Walker and Gartner to finish set two at 25-17.
 
In set three, Francis Marion began in a four-point deficit, but climbed its way back to tie the game at 17-17. The Patriots overtook the Bobcats and with Gillespie applying pressure at the service line, she kept Lees-McRae out of system and finished set three at 25-20.
 
Gillespie was honored as the lone Patriot senior prior to the first serve.  She needs just 28 digs to become only the second player in program history to amass 3,000 assists; 1,000 digs; and 125 service aces.

 
 
Francis Marion Univ. def. Lees-McRae 25-21,25-17,25-20
 
Lees-McRae (12-9,9-4 Conference) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Stigler, Sydney
9-0-0; Ryan, Rebecca 8-1-2; Holley, Destiny 8-0-1; Rykala, Patrycja
4-0-1; Vallesi, Nina 3-0-0; Osborne, Nicole 1-0-0; Goins, Madison
1-0-0; Xayavong, Lauren 0-2-0; Totals 34-3-3.0. (Assists) - Goins,
Madison 31. (Dig leaders) - Xayavong, Lauren 24; Adamson, Bre 10;
Goins, Madison 8
 
Francis Marion Univ. (14-13,10-4 Conferenc) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Kara
Walker 14-1-0; Madilyn Gartner 13-2-0; Caroline Lucas 9-1-3; Mo
Grigsby 9-0-1; Kaytlin Smart 5-0-3; Kaylee Gillespie 2-1-1; Ella
Quiring 0-1-0; Totals 52-6-4.0. (Assists) - Kaylee Gillespie 45. (Dig
leaders) - Katie Floyd 20; Ella Quiring 14; Madilyn Gartner 12; Kara
Walker 9
 
Site: Florence, SC (Pearl Moore Basketball Center)
Date: 10/28/23       Attend: 123   Time: 1:36