FLORENCE, SC – Junior middle blocker Caroline Lucas paced Francis Marion University in a 25-16, 25-17, 25-18 sweep over Southern Wesleyan University on Saturday (Oct. 26) with 12 kills and a .407 hitting percentage.
 
Francis Marion captured its ninth straight win to even its overall record at 11-11, while improving to 9-3 in Conference Carolinas play.  FMU will host I-95 rival UNCP Pembroke on Wednesday (Oct. 30) with a 6 p.m. start time.
 
One of two seniors to be celebrated on Senior Day and reigning Conference Carolinas Player of the Week, outside hitter Kara Walker posted a game-high 22 digs, while also serving a pair of aces. The other senior to be recognized, middle blocker Kaitlyn Smart, recorded a hitting percentage of .500 with 10 kills on 20 attack attempts.
 
FMU junior libero Katie Floyd dug up 15 balls and in the process became the 17th Patriot to surpass 1,000 career digs.
 
Sophomore outside hitter Chaney Barth led with three service aces and recorded seven kills and 14 digs, while junior setter Mya Mendoza registered 34 assists.  Sophomore Camryn Faggart added nine kills on only 14 swings.
 
Michaela Andress (8) and Gracie Wilson (8) of Southern Wesleyan (8-10, 5-7) combined for 16 kills and libero Kristina Pino tallied 23 digs.
 
Both teams played relatively close for the beginning of the opening set. FMU began to pull away later in the set as the Patriots went on a six-point run to hold a score of 17-9. Francis Marion wrapped up the first set with a score of 25-16.
 
Starting similarly to the first set, Southern Wesleyan played Francis Marion closely until another six-point spurt led to a 20-14 Patriot advantage. Kills from freshman middle blocker Ella Curbow, sophomore right side hitters Ava LaVancha, and Faggart closed out set two for FMU.
 
The Patriots made quick work of the third-set, using a seven-point run to break a 13-13 deadlock and finish out their three-set victory.