BRISTOL, TN - Senior middleblocker Caroline Lucas paved the way in kills with 15 on a .556 hitting percentage as Francis Marion University took it in straight sets, 25-15, 25-16, 25-14, against the Tornado of King University in the Student Center Complex on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 4).
 
With the triumph, FMU sits at a 9-7 overall record and remains undefeated in conference at 7-0, leaving the Patriots the only remaining team left in Conference Carolinas with a spotless conference record. Meanwhile, King drops to an overall 5-9 record and 3-4 in conference.
 
Francis Marion returns home to face Ferrum College on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
 
In addition to Lucas, statistical leaders for the Patriots were junior outside hitter Madilyn Gartner who earned nine kills, and freshman setter Aubrey Johnson with match-high 36 assists. Junior right-side Camryn Faggart also weighed in with six kills.  Libero McKenna Wiseman dug up 22 balls.
 
FMU made their presence known early in set one with a dominant 11-0 stretch with contributions from Faggart, three consecutive Lucas kills, an ace from redshirt junior outside Kayla Clayworth, and a kill from junior outside hitter Allison Miller. King responded with a run of their own, but FMU maintained their momentum as senior setter Mya Mendoza delivered an ace, followed by a block from Miller and Lucas. A final kill by Lucas secured the 25-15 set victory.
 
Set two was evenly matched until points began to roll in for Francis Marion, thanks to freshman middle blocker McKayla Stockwell, Lucas (who recorded four kills in the set), Miller, and Gartner. Finally, a kill by Faggart silenced the Tornado, giving the Patriots a 25-16 set win.
 
In the third set, the back-and-forth battle continued until Francis Marion broke away with a 5-1 run. Five straight points by FMU?including a kill from Lucas, several King errors, and a Johnson kill?secured the 25-14 set win and completed the sweep.