Patriots earn PBC weekly honors

Three Francis Marion University student-athletes have earned weekly honors from the Peach Belt Conference for the week ending Sept. 21.  Senior setter Jenna Kaiser (KY-zer) has been selected as the women's volleyball Specialist of the Week for the second time this season and fifth time in her career, while junior Hillary Kiprop and senior Kelly May were selected as the men's and women's cross country Runners of the Week.

Kaiser, a native of Broomfield, Colo., averaged 9.10 assists and 3.10 digs per game last week as the Patriots posted a perfect 5-0 mark.  She also recorded 10 kills, three service aces and five total blocks.  She has committed only one service error in her last 130 attempts.

The 11-4 Patriots open PBC play on Friday when they host Augusta State University at 7 p.m.

Kaiser is a former three-sport standout at Broomfield High School.

Kiprop, a native of Eldoret, Kenya, finished first in the men's 5-mile race at last Saturday's Limestone College Invitational Meet.  With a time of 25:55, he crossed the finish line two seconds ahead of the second-place runner.  He has been the Patriots' top finisher in all three events this fall.

May, a native of Bowling Green, Ohio, enjoyed a record-setting morning at the same Limestone Invitational.  She finished third in the women's 5,000-meter race and smashed the Patriot record for that event by finishing in 18:53, 17 seconds better than the old mark set in 2003.  May bettered her own personal-best time by an amazing 49 seconds.

A graduate of Bowling Green High School. May has been FMU's top finisher in all three events this fall.

The FMU cross country teams are off this weekend, and will return to action on Oct. 4 at the Elite Cross Country Invitational in Due West, S.C.