HARTSVILLE, SC – Francis Marion University ran off the first seven points of the fifth set behind the serving of junior setter Mya Mendoza to record a hard-fought season-opening 25-23, 25-19, 21-25, 22-25, 15-7 win over local-rival Coker University, Thursday night (Sept. 5) in women's volleyball action.
 
FMU will return to Hartsville for a pair of matches in the Coker Cobras Classic this weekend: Friday at 4:45 p.m. against Wingate University and Saturday at 12:15 p.m. against West Virginia Wesleyan University.
 
Thursday's victory was the 99th career win for head coach Lauren Baufield-Edwards.
 
Senior outside hitter Kara Walker paced the Patriots with 14 kills, 15 digs, and three service aces.  Junior middleblocker Caroline Lucas registered 12 kills and three blocks, while senior middleblocker Kaytlin Smart tallied 10 kills and a team-high six blocks.
 
Mendoza directed the FMU offense with 45 assists and recorded 13 digs and three service aces.  Junior libero Katie Floyd matched Walker for the team lead in digs with 15.
 
Taylor Hills led the Cobras with 15 kills.
 
Francis Marion claimed the opening two sets, but Coker never trailed in winning set number three.  The Cobras forced the deciding set by winning the fourth set, a game that featured nine ties and four lead changes.
 
In the fifth set, FMU jumped out to the 7-0 lead with Mendoza on the serving line – a run that included two aces.  The margin grew to 9-1, before Coker closed to within 9-4.  Holding a 13-7 advantage, Francis Marion claimed the win following a Cobra serve error and a kill from Lucas.