FERRUM, VA – A trio of Patriots tallied double-digit kills on Wednesday night (Sept. 9), as the Francis Marion University volleyball program secured a 3-0 sweep at Ferrum College in the Conference Carolinas opener.
The Patriots improve to 5-3 overall with a 1-0 mark in conference action. Following eight straight matches on the road, FMU will play its home opener on Friday, Sept. 11, versus Young Harris College at 6 p.m. in the Smith University Center.
Sophomore outside hitter
Haleigh Kamer set a new career-high with 13 kills on a .333 hitting percentage, adding six digs and one block. Senior opposite hitter
Camryn Faggart reached double-digit kills for the sixth time this season after finishing with 11 kills on a .348 clip. Fellow senior outside hitter
Madilyn Gartner totaled 10 kills and contributed four digs. Graduate student middle blocker
Vanessa Blake produced nine kills and tallied three blocks.
Sophomore setter
Aubrey Johnson eclipsed 1,000 career assists on Wednesday after guiding the offense with 39 assists against the Panthers (3-2, 0-1). Freshman libero
Alyssa Whiteside led the defensive effort with 12 digs while also contributing two aces and two assists. Senior defensive specialist
Kayla Clayworth delivered three service aces in the win.
The Patriots established a 6-2 edge in the opening set before the sides exchanged the next five points. Francis Marion extended the lead to 13-7 following a pair of kills by Gartner, but the Panthers rallied to close the gap to 19-16 late in the set. FMU responded by scoring five unanswered points to lead by a 24-16 margin before Ferrum tallied three straight points. Kamer secured the 25-19 win in the first set after delivering a kill.
In the second set, the Panthers held an early 6-4 advantage before Francis Marion countered with a 9-2 run, highlighted by two aces by Whiteside and a pair of kills from Faggart, 13-8. Ferrum closed the deficit to 14-11, but the Patriots answered with five consecutive points to stretch the lead to 19-11. FMU ultimately pulled away as Gartner contributed the set-winning kills to claim a 25-17 victory.
Francis Marion quickly took a 13-4 advantage in the third set as Blake and Kamer combined for five straight kills. The Panthers responded with a 5-2 rally to cut into the deficit, but the Patriots scored six unanswered to pull away 21-9. After trading the next four points, Blake and Kamer once again delivered kills to seal a 25-12 win.
