FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University featured four players with double-digit kills, led by senior outside hitter
Madilyn Gartner with 17, as the Patriots secured a significant 3-1 victory over USC Aiken on Tuesday night (Oct. 27) in non-conference women's volleyball action at the Smith University Center.
With the win, the Patriots (20-7) capture back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 2005-06 and earn a massive victory toward their NCAA Tournament resume. Entering tonight's match, USC Aiken ranked third in the latest Southeast Region NPI Rankings while Francis Marion was fifth overall. Meanwhile, the Pacers drop to 16-6 on the season while holding second-place in the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) standings.
The Patriots will travel to UNC Pembroke for a Halloween matchup on Saturday, Oct. 31, at noon. The two sides rank atop the East Division entering the final week of the regular season.
Gartner delivered a dominant performance after posting a double-double with 17 kills on a .375 hitting percentage, plus 10 digs, two service aces, and two blocks. Sophomore outside hitter
Haleigh Kamer finished with 15 kills and 15 digs, while senior opposite hitter
Camryn Faggart contributed 10 kills against the Pacers. Graduate student middle blocker
Vanessa Blake tallied 10 kills on a .333 clip with three blocks (two solos). Sophomore setter
Aubrey Johnson directed the offense with 50 assists, plus 12 digs, three service aces, and two blocks.
Defensively, freshman libero Alyssa Whitside finished with a team-high 19 digs, while senior defensive specialist
McKenna Wiseman added 13 digs and two aces. Blake and sophomore middle blocker
McKayla Stockwell controlled the net with three blocks.
USC Aiken established an early 5-4 edge in the opening set before Francis Marion countered with six straight points, as Kamer produced two kills, to take a 10-5 lead. The Pacers rallied to close the gap to 12-10 before a 4-1 run by the Patriots stretched the advantage to 16-11. Later in the set, USCA scored six unanswered points to tie the match at 20-20 before the sides exchanged points down the stretch. Kills from Kamer and Gartner sealed the first set in favor of the Patriots, 26-24.
In the second set, USC Aiken responded with a strong offensive performance after tallying 15 kills on a .419 clip with just two attacking errors. The Pacers raced in front by a 13-9 margin, but the Patriots responded with four consecutive points to tie the match, 13-13. USCA would go on to close out the set with a 12-2 run to collect a 25-15 win.
Francis Marion countered with an outstanding offensive showing in the third set, totaling 13 kills on a .385 hitting percentage. FMU built a quick 11-5 lead behind a pair of service aces by Gartner, but USCA answered back with five straight points to cut the deficit to 11-10. The Patriots countered with an 11-3 run to take a significant 22-13 lead before earning the third-set win by a 25-16 margin following a trio of kills by Blake.
In the fourth set, the Pacers held an 11-8 edge, but the Patriots rallied with five consecutive points to take a 13-11 lead. The two sides exchanged the lead late in the set before USC Aiken scored four straight points to take a 23-20 advantage. With USCA ahead 24-22, FMU managed to fight off set-point twice after tallying three unanswered points, 25-24. Following a point by USCA to tie it at 25-25, Faggart delivered a kill before an attacking error secured the win, 27-25.
