NORTH CHARLESTON, SC – Sixth-seeded UNC Pembroke rallied to defeat third-seeded Francis Marion University 21-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-19, 17-15 Thursday night (Nov. 21) in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Conference Carolinas Women's Volleyball Tournament.
 
Francis Marion ends its season with a 16-13 record.
 
Sophomore outside hitter Chaney Barth led FMU with 18 kills, a career-high 17 digs, and three blocks, while All-Conference middleblockers Kaytlin Smart and Caroline Lucas each registered 15 kills and three blocks.  Senior All-Conference hitter Kara Walker added nine kills and 21 digs.
 
All-Conference setter Mya Mendoza directed the FMU offense with a career-high 54 assists while digging up 10 balls for her 12th double-double of the year.  In the process, she surpassed 1,000 assists for the year.  Junior libero Katie Floyd recorded a career-high 28 digs and served a team-high four aces.
 
McKenna Hayes paced UNCP (16-17) with 13 kills.
 
Francis Marion scored the opening four points of the match and never trailed while winning the first set 25-21.  The second set featured 10 ties and four lead changes, but FMU closed on a 5-2 run to gain the 25-22 victory.
 
The Patriots led 23-18 in the third set, but the Braves stayed alive by running off seven straight points to force a fourth set.  UNCP used a 9-1 spurt midway through that fourth set en route to a 25-17 victory.
 
The fifth set featured an amazing 14 ties and five lead changes.  FMU fought off two match points, but Tyler Patterson's ace provided the clinching point in a 17-15 win.