WILSON, NC – Junior right-side hitter Kaytlin Smart posted a career high of 18 kills and a .417 hitting percentage in Francis Marion University's takedown of Barton College 25-8, 20-25, 22-25, 25-22, 15-12, Monday (Nov. 6) night.
 
Francis Marion ends it regular season with a 15-15 overall record and an 11-6 conference mark, and finished tied for second in the East Division.  The Patriots are seeded fifth and will host first- and second-round matches in the Conference Carolinas Tournament on Sunday at 1 and 3:30 p.m. at the Pearl Moore Basketball Center.  No.11 Barton will face No.8 Young Harris College at 1 p.m. and FMU will play the winner at 3:30 p.m.
 
Sophomore middle blocker Caroline Lucas also proved her offensive prowess with 18 kills and a .654 hitting percentage, closely followed by freshman outside hitter Madilyn Gartner who tallied 12 kills and a career-high 19 digs.
 
FMU senior setter Kaylee Gillespie posted yet another double-double against Barton with 55 assists and 14 digs. Gillespie also maintains third place in Conference Carolinas assists per set standings with a 10.28 average.
 
Starting as libero for Francis Marion, sophomore Katie Floyd dug up 18 balls. 
 
Alison Gambill paced the Bulldogs (9-17, 5-12) with 15 kills.
 
In the opening set of the night, Francis Marion started in a groove and quickly went up 8-5 over the Bulldogs. A four-point run and a set of kills from junior outside hitter Kara Walker boosted FMU's lead by an additional 10 points. Rounding out set one, FMU scored seven consecutive points to wrap up a 25-8 victory.
 
Despite a tough first set for Barton, they pulled together and took the lead early in the second set. Although the Patriots were able to string together a run halfway through the second set, Barton pulled away and finished set two at 25-20. Continuing to battle head-to-head, FMU had an 11-8 advantage over the Bulldogs, but the lead dwindled and was knotted at an even 12-12. With kills from Gambill, Barton took set three at 25-22.
 
Starting set four in a five-point deficit, FMU quickly worked their way back to yet another 12-12 stalemate. With two big kills from Smart, momentum changed, and the Patriots were back in control of set four. Wrapping up at 25-22, FMU and Barton went into the deciding set. Gillespie started set five with a service ace, but the Bulldogs still took the lead at 4-3. Francis Marion regained the lead at 5-4 and would remain in front for the remainder of the match. Kills from Lucas and Smart would seal the game at 15-12.
 
 
Francis Marion Univ. def. Barton 25-8,20-25,22-25,25-22,15-12
 
Francis Marion Univ. (15-15, 11-6 CC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Kaytlin
Smart 18-0-1; Caroline Lucas 18-1-1; Madilyn Gartner 12-0-0; Kara
Walker 7-2-0; Mo Grigsby 7-0-1; Kaylee Gillespie 3-2-1; Katie Kemp
2-0-0; Ella Quiring 0-2-0; Totals 67-7-4.0. (Assists) - Kaylee
Gillespie 55. (Dig leaders) - Madilyn Gartner 19; Katie Floyd 18; Ella
Quiring 14; Kaylee Gillespie 14
 
Barton (9-17, 5-12 CC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Gambill, Allison 15-3-3;
Sleight, Henly 12-1-2; Haaga, Lily 9-0-3; Lawrence, Kate 4-0-6; Pitt,
Lauryn 3-0-5; Strey, Hailey 2-3-0; Greene, Madison 1-1-0; Schrubb,
Aubree 1-0-2; Totals 47-8-16.0. (Assists) - Greene, Madison 19; Strey,
Hailey 17. (Dig leaders) - Meyer, Lilly 26; Gambill, Allison 15
 
Site: Wilson, N.C. (Wilson Gymnasium)
Date: Nov 06, 2023   Attend: 250   Time: 2:15   
Referees: Brian Jones, Owen Perkins
Line judges: Jake Patrick, Rick Moore