Box Score
by Kevin Buczek
FLORENCE, S.C.-Francis Marion University was able to win a battle of two surging women's volleyball programs on Tuesday evening as the Patriots defeated visiting Barton College 25-15, 25-20, 25-23 in a non-conference showdown in the Smith University Center.
FMU rode a balanced hitting attack to claim the sweep, upping its overall record to 15-7 with its sixth straight victory. The Lady Bulldogs had its season-best four match win streak snapped to slip to 7-15 on the year.
Junior setter Kailey Smith registered a double-double with 13 assists and 10 digs highlight play for the Patriots.
Senior outside hitter Liz Drewry paced the Francis Marion hitting attack with 10 kills, while freshman Alexzandra Reed and junior Jessica Imbimbo had nine each, and junior Megan Mooney added eight. Sophomore setter Sloane Shank handed out 16 assists, while sophomore libero Rebekah Davis dug up a team-high 12 balls.
Sophomore Melissa Cochran and senior Meredith Watkins led Barton with eight kills apiece. Junior Jordan Lee followed with six spikes and senior Kati Wood had five kills. Sophomore setter Amanda Grandy recorded 27 assists and nine digs. Bulldog senior libero Chelsea Fleury tallied a team-high 12 digs while Wood lifted up 11 digs. Cochran added one solo block and two block assists for a team-best 10.0 points.
The Patriots did not trail through the opening two sets. Barton owned a 23-19 advantage late in set three, but Francis Marion ran off the final six points of the match to claim the victory. Smith served for the final five points of the run, including one service ace, while Drewry posted two of her kills.
FMU hit .202 for the match and BC attacked at a rate of .126.
Barton returns to Conference Carolinas play with a pair of road matches this weekend. The Lady Bulldogs visit Belmont Abbey College on Friday at 7 p.m. before traveling to Coker College on Saturday for a 12:30 p.m. encounter.
NOTE: Special thanks to Francis Marion sports information for providing portions of the release.
