AUGUSTA, GA – Francis Marion University was limited to just 26 kills on a .051 hitting percentage on Tuesday night (Oct. 20), as the Patriots suffered a 3-0 loss at Augusta University in a non-conference women's volleyball match.
With the loss, the Patriots suffer back-to-back losses for the first time this season and drop to 17-7 overall with an 8-4 mark on the road. FMU will play four of its final five regular-season matches at the Smith University Center, starting with Barton College on Friday, Oct. 23, at 1 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Jaguars improve to 8-14 overall, earning a third straight win, and improve to 5-3 at home.
Sophomore outside hitter
Haleigh Kamer paced the Patriots with eight kills, plus two service aces and four digs. Senior outside hitter
Madilyn Gartner finished with six kills, one ace, two blocks, and 10 digs over three sets. Sophomore setter
Aubrey Johnson contributed 18 assists while adding six digs and one block.
Freshman libero
Alyssa Whiteside led the defense with 20 digs, while senior opposite hitter
Camryn Faggart controlled the net with four blocks. FMU tallied eight service aces in the match, led by senior defensive specialist
McKenna Wiseman, who matched a career high with five.
In the first set, Augusta quickly established an 8-2 lead before the Patriots scored five of the next eight points to trim the deficit to 11-7. The Jaguars responded with an 8-1 run to build a 19-8 advantage, but FMU scored four unanswered points to close the gap to 19-12. The Jaguars tallied six of the final eight points to seal the opening set, 25-14.
Francis Marion raced out to a 5-0 lead in the second set following a pair of aces by Kamer. With the Patriots ahead by an 8-4 margin, Augusta stormed back with a 9-3 rally to grab a 13-11 lead. FMU regrouped and mounted an 8-1 run with two kills by Gartner and Faggart to take a 19-14 advantage. The Jaguars countered with an impressive 11-3 rally to steal the second set, 25-22.
The Patriots trailed in the opening moments of the third set before scoring four straight points, including three aces by Wiseman, to hold a 10-9 edge. Augusta responded with back-to-back points before Francis Marion scored four unanswered points to take a 14-11 lead. The Jaguars regained the lead 16-15, but the Patriots managed to reclaim an 18-17 edge on a kill by sophomore middle blocker
McKayla Stockwell. Augusta completed the sweep with an 8-1 run to win by a 25-19 margin.
