FLORENCE, SC - Junior middleblocker Caroline Lucas registered 10 kills and senior Kaytlin Smart added nine kills as Francis Marion University breezed past Chowan University 25-17, 25-13, 25-15, Wednesday afternoon (Oct. 23) in Conference Carolinas volleyball play.

The Patriots (8-11, 7-3) won their sixth consecutive match, all in conference play, and will face USC Aiken later on Wednesday evening at 6 p.m.

Smart tallied her nine kills on only 16 swings and posted a .500 hitting percentage.  Sophomores Camryn Faggart and Chaney Barth each added six kills apiece.

Junior setter Mya Mendoza recorded 32 assists and 10 digs for her seventh double-double of the 2024 campaign.  She also served a team-high four aces.

Junior libero Katie Floyd dug up an amazing 20 balls in the three-set sweep, and now stands only 42 digs away from 1000 for her career.

Rosa Lynn Collier led Chowan (4-16, 2-11) with five kills.

FMU took control of the opening set with a 9-1 run midway through.  The Patriots scored nine of the first 10 points in set No.2 and were not seriously threatened.  A 5-0 spurt in set No.3 erased an early Hawks' lead and a later 12-1 run by Francis Marion helped end the match.