TAMPA, FL – On Day 1 of the Tampa Volleyball Classic, Francis Marion University secured a split on Friday (Sept. 4), highlighted by a 3-0 sweep (25-16, 25-23, 25-19) over #17-ranked University of Missouri-St. Louis. The Patriots suffered a 3-0 loss (14-25, 16-25, 22-25) to the host #4-ranked Spartans in the opening match of the tournament.
Francis Marion holds a 3-2 record in the early portion of the 2026 slate and will return to the court tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 5, for two more matches in the Sunshine State. The Patriots will face Florida Southern College at 11 a.m. before facing Oklahoma Baptist University, which is set to start at 4 p.m.
Against Missouri-St. Louis (2-3) of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), Francis Marion delivered a stellar all-around performance, highlighted by 53 digs, seven service aces, and five blocks. Senior opposite hitter
Camryn Faggart led the offensive effort with 13 kills on an impressive .440 hitting percentage. Fellow senior outside hitter
Madilyn Gartner finished with eight kills, two assists, and nine digs. Sophomore setter
Aubrey Johnson guided the offense with 26 assists, nine digs, three blocks, and two kills.
Last season, the Tritons made the 2025 NCAA Tournament and claimed the GLVC Tournament Championship. UMSL entered the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top 25 this week after defeating two ranked opponents in the opening week, including #1 Concordia-St. Paul, the national runner-up in 2025.
Defensively, Patriot freshman libero
Alyssa Whiteside registered a game-high 14 digs with two aces and two assists. Johnson and Gartner each contributed nine digs, while sophomore outside hitter
Haleigh Kamer tallied seven digs. At the net, graduate student middle blocker
Vanessa Blake recorded four blocks in the sweep.
Against Tampa (4-1) of the Sunshine State Conference, the reigning South Regional Champions and 2025 national semifinalists. FMU struggled to halt the high-powered Spartan offense that delivered 46 kills on a .374 hitting percentage. The Patriots were held to a season-low 21 kills in the three-set match and limited to just three blocks.
Gartner produced six kills, one ace, and three digs in the loss, while Faggart contributed five kills, one block, and two digs. Kamer also finished with five kills, one assist, one service ace, one block, and three digs. Johnson registered 12 assists for the FMU offensive efforts.
Senior libero
McKenna Wiseman and Johnson each totaled six digs, while Whiteside added five digs.
