Stunned Patriots swept by ASU

AUGUSTA, GA - Francis Marion University managed only a season-low .082 attack percentage and the Patriots were swept by Augusta State University in three games (25-17, 25-19, 25-19), Wednesday night (Oct. 22) in Peach Belt Conference volleyball action.

Francis Marion (18-6, 4-2) loses for only the second time in its last 14 matches, but drops out of a first-place tie in the PBC standings.  ASU (11-17, 2-5) has now won three straight.

Senior Jessica Lombardi led FMU with 13 kills, while freshman Ashlee Crook came off the bench to register seven kills.  The Patriots compiled 37 kills, but committed 27 errors in 122 total attempts.

Patriot setter Jenna Kaiser handed out 29 assists and dug up 10 balls.  Junior Jess O'Leary recorded a season-high 18 digs, while sophomore libero Kelsie Deaton had 14.

Jessica Howard paced ASU with 11 kills.  Ashley Zappitell tallied 29 assists, while Lindsey Weider had 18 digs.

Francis Marion did rally in set three to tie the score at 19-19, but the Jaguars ran off the final six points to win 25-19.

Francis Marion will play host to conference-leading Armstrong Atlantic State University for Senior Day on Saturday at 3 p.m.

Augusta State Univ. def. Francis Marion Univ. 25-17,25-19,25-19

Francis Marion Univ. (18-6,4-2) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Lombardi,

Jessica 13-2-1; Crook, Ashlee 7-0-0; Hill, Emily 6-0-0; Underhill,

Ashlyn 6-1-0; Eggert, Mallory 2-0-0; Mitchell, Amanda 2-0-0; Kaiser,

Jenna 1-0-1; O'Leary, Jess 0-2-0; Totals 37-5-1.0. (Assists) - Kaiser,

Jenna 29. (Dig leaders) - O'Leary, Jess 18; Deaton, Kelsie 14; Kaiser,

Jenna 10; Legg, Hallie 8

Augusta State Univ. (11-17,2-5) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Howard, Jessica

11-0-5; Meyer, Dianna 9-1-1; Hanson, Jessica 6-2-2; Childress, Tarah

3-0-2; Zappitell, Ashley 3-1-1; Hunt, Amy 1-2-0; Totals 33-6-7.0.

(Assists) - Zappitell, Ashley 29. (Dig leaders) - Weider, Lindsey 18;

Hunt, Amy 13; Zappitell, Ashley 8; Meyer, Dianna 8

Site: Augusta, Ga (Christenberry Field)

Date: 10/22/08       Attend: 255   Time: 1:36 min

Referees: Buzz Thompson, DJ Wiles