FLORENCE, SC – Seniors Kaytlin Smart and Kara Walker combined for 36 kills, but Francis Marion University was unable to overcome an early deficit and fell 25-17, 26-24, 21-25, 25-23 to visiting Erskine College, Friday night (Oct. 4) in Conference Carolinas volleyball play.
 
FMU will play at Belmont Abbey College on Saturday at 2 p.m. in a make-up contest that was postponed earlier by Hurricane Helene.
 
Smart pounded out a career-high equaling 18 kills while posting a .364 hitting percentage and registering four blocks.  Walker also recorded 18 kills and dug up a team-high 23 balls, one shy of her career high.  The Fayetteville, N.C., native also surpassed 400 career digs for her short two-year career as a Patriot.  
 
Junior Caroline Lucas added nine kills and four blocks, while freshman Ella Curbow contributed a team-high five blocks.
 
FMU junior setter Mya Mendoza handed out 42 assists, posted 13 digs, and served four aces.
 
Ryleigh Taylor paced Erskine with 17 kills, 12 digs, and three aces.
 
After dropping the opening set, Francis Marion looked to even the match at one set apiece in set No.2.  The Patriots led 24-20, but the Flying Fleet rallied to score the final six points. 
 
The third set featured six ties and three lead changes, but this time FMU held off the Flying Fleet for a 25-21 win.  The fourth set was even tighter as it featured 12 ties and five lead changes. Erskine took the lead for good at 17-16, but then saw Francis Marion pull within 24-23 after a kill by Smart.  Following a timeout by the Flying Fleet, Erskine recorded the decisive point to end the match.