Patriots Top UNCP In Four-Set Match

FLORENCE, S.C. – Sophomore outside hitter Allie Schneider racked up 13 kills and five service aces on offense while posting 12 digs and three blocks on defense but the Braves could not slow down the Francis Marion offense as the Patriots defeated UNCP 3-1, in a Peach Belt Conference volleyball match on Wednesday night.

FMU (7-7, 2-3 PBC) took the first set of the match 25-21 before the Braves (7-9, 1-3 PBC) earned the 25-18 game-two victory. The Patriots would hold off UNCP in the third set 27-25 and then took the fourth set 25-20 to earn the 3-1 victory.

Three Patriots hit in double figures on the night with Mallory Eggert earning a team-high 13 kill. Ashlee Crook tallied 12 kills with teammate Ashlyn Underhill earning 11 as Eggert, Crook and Underhill tallied 36 of FMU’s 53 kills.

Senior rightside hitter Lizzie O’Connor posted nine kills for UNCP with freshman setter Sam Wylie dishing out 36 assists. Junior libero Caitlin Haworth recorded a game-high 23 digs while senior middle blocker Jessica Hartley tallied four blocks (one solo) on defense.

Eggert committed only two errors in 20 attacks for a hitting percentage of .550 for the match, while also registering four blocks. FMU sophomore setter Hallie Legg handed out 23 assists, while senior setter Jess O’Leary added 17 of her own. Junior libero Kelsie Deaton recorded a team-high 13 digs, while Legg and Underhill both dug up 11 balls.

Francis Marion will play host to Armstrong Atlantic State University on Friday at 7 p.m., while UNCP entertains Flagler College the same night at 7 p.m.