FLORENCE, SC – Senior opposite hitter
Camryn Faggart led the charge with a game-high 17 kills on a .438 hitting percentage, as third-seeded Francis Marion University captured a 3-1 victory (27-29, 25-21, 25-12, 25-20) over the sixth-seeded University of Mount Olive on Wednesday night (Nov. 11) in the quarterfinals of the Conference Carolinas Tournament at the Smith University Center.
With the win, the Patriots (23-7) extend their winning streak to six and secure a spot in the semifinals of the Conference Carolinas Tournament. Francis Marion will face No. 2 Converse University on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 7:30 p.m. in Pembroke, N.C., as UNC Pembroke will serve as the championship site. The two sides met earlier this season on October 17, with the Valkyries claiming a win at home in a five-set thriller over the Patriots.
The Trojans' 2026 season comes to a close following today's loss and finishes the year with a 16-14 overall record.
Alongside Faggart, two Patriots reached double-digit kills on Wednesday night. Sophomore outside hitter
Haleigh Kamer, the 2026 Conference Carolinas Offensive Player of the Year, produced a double-double with 14 kills, 16 digs, and two blocks. Senior outside hitter
Madilyn Gartner also registered a double-double with 10 kills, 15 digs, two aces, and two blocks.
Graduate student middle blocker
Vanessa Blake tallied nine kills and a career-high seven blocks against the Trojans. Sophomore middle blocker
McKayla Stockwell added seven kills on a .313 hitting percentage with three blocks. Sophomore setter
Aubrey Johnson matched a career high with 53 assists while contributing nine digs and two blocks.
Defensively, freshman libero
Alyssa Whiteside registered a game-high 24 digs with two service aces and two assists.
The opening set featured 12 ties and four different lead changes as the divisional foes battled in their third meeting this season. The Trojans were able to create separation with a 5-1 run to establish a 17-13 advantage before FMU managed to rally and close the deficit to 22-20. Mount Olive reached match point at 24-20, but the Patriots countered with five unanswered points to hold a 25-24 edge. UMO responded by scoring five of the final seven points to steal the opening set, 29-27.
In the second set, the Trojans managed to build an early lead before Francis Marion mounted a 5-1 run with a pair of kills by Blake to take a 10-8 lead. With the Patriots holding an 18-14 edge, Mount Olive rattled off six-straight points to claim the advantage, 20-18. FMU immediately answered back with a 7-1 run as Faggart delivered a kill to capture the win by a 25-21 margin.
Francis Marion jumped out to a 10-5 lead in the third set before UMO countered with a 6-1 run to trim the gap to 12-11. The Patriots would go on to score nine consecutive points, including four kills by Faggart, to hold a significant 21-11 advantage. FMU would capitalize on a trio of errors in the closing moments to earn a 25-13 win.
In the fourth, the Patriots held an early 6-3 edge, but Mount Olive mounted an impressive 10-1 run to steal the lead, 13-7. Francis Marion quickly closed the gap to 15-14 before the Trojans scored three of the next four to regain a three-point lead, 18-15. With the match eventually tied at 19-19, FMU went on a 6-1 run with a pair of aces by Gartner to seal the win by a 25-20 margin.
