FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University produced another stellar all-around performance on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 24), tallying 44 kills on a .378 clip with seven aces and seven blocks, in a 3-0 sweep over Chowan University on Senior Day in Conference Carolinas women's volleyball action at the Smith University Center.
With the win, the Patriots (19-7, 15-3) clinch at least a share of the Conference Carolinas East Division after improving to a perfect 8-0 in divisional competition. Francis Marion has three matches remaining in the regular season, including two East Division contests as it pushes toward the postseason. Meanwhile, the Hawks fall to 7-16 overall with a 6-10 record in conference play.
Francis Marion returns to the Smith University Center on Tuesday, Oct. 27, to face USC Aiken in a critical Southeast Region matchup at 6 p.m. as both teams are in the NCAA Tournament picture.
Senior outside hitter
Madilyn Gartner finished with a game-high 16 kills on an impressive .560 hitting percentage, plus seven digs. Senior outside hitter
Allison Miller contributed nine kills on a .368 clip with nine digs and two aces. Senior opposite hitter
Camryn Faggart totaled eight kills on a .353 hitting percentage with three blocks. Sophomore middle blocker
McKayla Stockwell registered seven kills on a .462 clip with four blocks and two digs.
Sophomore setter
Aubrey Johnson guided the offense with 23 assists and a trio of blocks. Senior setter
Ella Martinez totaled 15 assists and four digs against the Hawks. Senior defensive specialist
McKenna Wiseman recorded a team-high 11 digs with one ace, while freshman libero
Alyssa Whiteside contributed nine digs and two assists.
The Patriots established a quick 7-2 lead in the opening set, courtesy of a pair of aces by senior defensive specialist
Kayla Clayworth. The sides exchanged points before FMU registered three straight kills to climb the lead to 14-6. The Hawks managed to trim the deficit to 16-12, but Francis Marion finished the first set with a 9-1 run to claim the win, 25-13.
FMU held the lead through the opening moments of the second set and eventually built a 14-10 advantage following a kill by Gartner. The Patriots would mount a 7-1 run with a trio of kills by Stockwell to leap ahead 22-11. Francis Marion would secure the second-set win on another ace by Clayworth, 25-14.
In the third set, the Patriots raced out to an 11-5 lead with Gartner accounting for three kills. Chowan stormed back with four unanswered points to close the gap to 11-9. Francis Marion responded with three consecutive points before holding a 20-15 advantage late in the set. FMU scored five of the final seven points, with a kill by Miller capturing the 25-17 victory.
