ROME, GA – In a battle of two of the top three teams in Conference Carolinas, junior Madilyn Gartner delivered 13 kills as Francis Marion University swept past Shorter University 25-21, 25-22, 25-23, Friday night (Oct. 24) in women's volleyball action.
 
Francis Marion improves to a league-best 12-1 in conference play and 15-8 overall, while Shorter drops to 14-8 overall and 11-3 in conference action.
 
FMU will conclude its weekend road trip to the Peach State with a 2 p.m. match at Young Harris College on Saturday.
 
Following Gartner was senior middleblocker Caroline Lucas with seven kills and junior Camryn Faggart with six.  Junior outside hitter Allsion Miller also had six kills, while adding eight digs and being spotless on 22 serve reception.
 
Senior setter Mya Mendoza handed out 24 assists for the Patriots, while senior libero Katie Floyd dug up a match-high 21 balls.  Mendoza recorded 10 digs for her third double-double of 2025 and 15th of her two-year FMU career.
 
The match featured 25 ties and 10 lead changes.
 
FMU fell behind 12-8 in the opening set but rallied with seven straight points to go ahead 15-12.  Leading by just one at 22-21, the Patriots finished the set with a kill by Faggart, a service ace by Floyd, and a Hawks' attacking error.
 
In set No.2, the score was deadlocked at 19-19, but a kill from Miller and three Shorter miscues allowed Francis Marion to go ahead 23-20.  Lucas provided the set-clinching point with a kill for the 25-22 victory.
 
Shorter claimed a three-point advantage late in set No.3 at 19-16.  The Patriots scored the next five points to take the lead for good at 21-19.  Lucas tallied three kills late in the set, while Gartner found open floor with an attack to give FMU match point at 24-22.  One point later, an attacking error by the Hawks gave FMU a 25-23 win and the sweep.