PEMBROKE, NC - Junior outside hitter Madilyn Gartner was in charge with match-high 17 kills as Francis Marion University defeated the UNC Pembroke Braves 3-1 (25-18, 25-19, 18-25, 25-20) on Tuesday evening (Oct. 14) at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court.
 
The Patriots improve to 11-8 on the year,  9-1 for their conference record, while UNC Pembroke drops to an overall record of 9-8 and 6-3 in conference. By clinching this victory, FMU wins the first 2025 installment of the Battle of I-95. The Patriots will return home on Friday for their Dig Pink match against North Greenville University starting at 6 p.m.
 
Alongside Gartner, leaders for the Patriots included senior middleblocker Caroline Lucas with 13 kills and five blocks, freshman setter Aubrey Johnson with match-high 34 assists and 15 digs, and senior libero Katie Floyd commanded the defense with a match-high 16 digs.  Gartner committed only two attacking errors on 46 swings for a .326 hitting percentage, while Lucas hit .522 with only one error.
 
FMU opened the first set with seven straight points to set the tone, fueled by strong play from Gartner, a block by junior right-side Camryn Faggart and freshman middle blocker McKayla Stockwell, a kill from Stockwell, and back-to-back kills from junior outside hitter Allison Miller. The Braves showed brief momentum, but the Patriots quickly answered with three kills—two from Lucas and one from Miller. Led by the dominant trio of Gartner, Stockwell, and Lucas, Francis Marion closed out the set with a 25-18 victory.
 
UNCP came out swinging in set two with a 6-0 stretch before FMU fought back with a 6-1 advantage thanks to Johnson, a point and block from senior Katie Kemp, and strong play from Lucas to even the score. Despite a push from UNC Pembroke, key contributions from Faggart and a combined block by Lucas and Faggart shifted the momentum, helping the Patriots secure the set 25-19.
 
The Braves controlled much of set three, jumping out to a 7-1 lead. Stockwell, Lucas, and Gartner helped keep FMU within striking distance, aided by two straight blocks from Lucas, Johnson, and Gartner. However, UNC Pembroke regained momentum late and pulled away to claim the set, 25-18.
 
In set four, Francis Marion stayed composed and battled back after UNCP's strong opening. Following a series of traded points, an 8-2 run sparked by Lucas and Gartner energized the Patriots, who held their momentum to close out the set 25-20 and clinch the 3-1 match victory.