BELMONT, NC – Francis Marion University volleyball featured a balanced offensive attack on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 26), with three players reaching double-digit kills in a 3-1 victory at Belmont Abbey College in Conference Carolinas play.
With the win, the Patriots continue a four-match winning streak and improve to 11-4 overall with a 7-1 mark in conference action. Francis Marion completed a perfect 3-0 week in league competition, highlighted by a 3-1 win over UNCP on Tuesday night. FMU returns to action on Tuesday, Sept. 29, as it travels to Chowan University for a divisional game at 6 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Crusaders drop to 8-7 on the season with a 3-5 record in conference play.
Senior opposite hitter
Camryn Faggart and sophomore outside hitter
Haleigh Kamer each finished with a game-high 14 kills. Faggart added two blocks and two digs, while Kamer totaled 19 digs and two service aces. Sophomore middle blocker
McKayla Stockwell also reached double-digit kills with 11 on a .321 hitting percentage, plus five digs. Sophomore setter
Aubrey Johnson delivered a double-double with 46 assists and 10 digs against the Crusaders.
Defensively, freshman libero
Alyssa Whiteside produced another stellar performance with 24 digs, four assists, and one ace. Senior defensive specialist
McKenna Wiseman added 11 digs, while graduate student middle blocker
Vanessa Blake controlled the net with three blocks.
The Patriots raced out to a 4-1 lead in the opening set following an ace by Kamer and a kill from Stockwell. Belmont Abbey responded with four unanswered points, including a pair of aces, to take a 5-4 edge. The match stayed tight, with 11 different ties down the stretch, before the Crusaders scored three straight points to take a 22-18 lead. FMU rallied to cut the lead to 22-21, but Belmont Abbey closed the door with three straight points to take the first set, 25-21.
In the second set, the contest was tied 5-5 before Francis Marion mounted a 7-1 run with service aces by Kamer and Whiteside to build a 12-6 advantage. Following a BAC timeout, the Patriots remained in control and stretched the lead to 21-13 behind a trio of kills by Faggart. The Crusaders rallied late to trim the deficit to 23-18, but FMU scored the next two points to seal the set, 25-18.
The Patriots carried that momentum into the third set after establishing an early 9-7 edge following back-to-back kills by senior outside hitter
Allison Miller. FMU eventually extended the lead to 13-8 after scoring four consecutive points, but the Crusaders kept it close, trailing 17-13 late in the set. Francis Marion capitalized on multiple errors by Belmont Abbey to pull away for a 25-18 victory.
In the fourth set, the Patriots used a 4-0 stretch in the opening moments to take an 8-4 edge. The Crusaders answered back with a 5-2 rally to close the gap to 10-9 before FMU countered with three straight points, including two kills by Faggart, 13-9. BAC remained within striking distance, trailing 18-15, but Francis Marion scored four unanswered points to build a 22-15 advantage. The Patriots would close out the set with a kill by Faggart to complete the win, 25-19.
