MURFREESBORO, NC – Sophomore middle blocker Caroline Lucas pounded out a career-high 24 kills to power Francis Marion University to a 25-17, 25-23, 20-25, 25-14 road win over Chowan University, Tuesday evening (Sept. 26) in Conference Carolinas volleyball action.
 
FMU (7-8, 3-1) will host a pair of conference matches this weekend at the Pearl Moore Basketball Center in downtown Florence.   The Patriots will entertain Belmont Abbey College on Friday at 6 p.m. and Converse University on Saturday at 2 p.m.  Admission is free.
 
Lucas also registered a sizzling .537 hitting percentage as she committed only two errors on a career-high 41 attacks. 
 
Junior outside hitter Kara Walker added 16 kills, a career-high 24 digs, and three service aces, while junior Kaytlin Smart enjoyed her most productive match of the year with 11 kills with a .360 hitting percentage.
 
Senior setter Kaylee Gillespie recorded a career-high 59 assists and dug up 11 balls to post her 12th double-double in 15 matches this season.  She also surpassed 2,900 career assists during the match.
 
Sophomore libero Katie Floyd chipped in 21 digs and committed only one error in 16 total receptions.
 
Ellie Middleton paced Chowan (2-11, 1-3) with 18 kills.
 
In the opening set, the Hawks led 6-5, but Francis Marion used a 12-5 run to capture a 17-11 advantage and cruised to the relatively easy 25-17 win.  FMU trailed early in the second set and was still down at 10-6.  The Patriots rattled off five of the next six points to knot the match at 11-11.  Francis Marion escaped with a 25-23 decision thanks to a Chowan serving error that accounted for the final point.
 
Chowan scored the final five points of the third set to break a 20-20 deadlock.  In the fourth and final set, Francis Marion trailed only at 1-0 and 2-1.  Holding a narrow 11-9 margin, the Patriots ran off seven straight points behind the serving of Walker and eventually concluded the contest with a 25-14 victory.
  
 
Francis Marion Univ. def. Chowan 25-17,25-23,20-25,25-14
 
Francis Marion Univ. (7-8,3-1 Conference C) (Kills-aces-blocks) -
Caroline Lucas 24-0-2; Kara Walker 16-3-0; Kaytlin Smart 11-0-1;
Madilyn Gartner 10-1-1; Camryn Faggart 6-0-2; Kaylee Gillespie 1-0-0;
Kayla Clayworth 0-1-0; Totals 68-5-3.0. (Assists) - Kaylee Gillespie
59. (Dig leaders) - Kara Walker 24; Katie Floyd 21; Madilyn Gartner
17; Kaylee Gillespie 11
 
Chowan (2-11,1-3 Conference) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Middleton, Ellie
18-1-0; Lee, Lyniah 11-0-0; Ratajesak, Gigi 7-1-2; Baskin, Nia 4-0-0;
Nored, Ryan 3-0-1; Ginaitt, Sydney 1-1-1; Bergling, Caleigh 0-1-0;
Totals 44-4-3.0. (Assists) - Ginaitt, Sydney 33. (Dig leaders) -
Bergling, Caleigh 22; Rodriguez, Diana 13; Ginaitt, Sydney 11;
Middleton, Ellie 9; Valdez, Olivia 8
 
Site: Murfreesboro, NC (Hawks Athletic Cente)
Date: 09/26/23       Attend: 54   Time: 1:46