Francis Marion opens volleyball invite with two wins
FLORENCE, SC – Junior hitter Ashlee Crook recorded a pair of double-digit kill matches as Francis Marion University opened its season with a pair of wins at the annual FMU Invitational Volleyball Tournament, Friday (Sept. 3) in the Smith University Center.
The Patriots defeated Barton College in three games (25-19, 25-15, 25-21) and then downed Erskine College in four games (25-20, 13-25, 25-22, 25-18). It is the first time in four seasons, FMU has opened 2-0.
The six-team tournament will continue tomorrow beginning at 9 a.m. with Erskine facing Barton. FMU will play Carson-Newman College at 11 a.m. and Brenau University at 7 p.m. In other action, Erskine plays UNC Pembroke at 1 p.m., Carson-Newman plays Brenau at 3 p.m., and Barton plays UNCP at 5 p.m.
Admission is free.
For the Patriots on Friday, Crook had 15 kills and seven digs in the opening sweep of Barton. Freshman Riley Forester added nine kills and four service aces in first collegiate match, while freshman setter Nicole Bennett handed out 31 assists. Senior libero Kelsie Deaton paced the Patriots with 13 digs.
In the victory over the Flying Fleet, Crook and junior Amanda Mitchell each had 10 kills. Crook also added 10 digs. Junior Hallie Legg and Bennett shared the setting duties with Legg registering 20 assists and 11 digs and Bennett 18 assists and 12 digs. Senior Mallory Eggert recorded nine kills and three service aces, while Deaton dug up 15 balls.
In other action on Friday, Carson-Newman beat Barton 19-25, 25-13, 25-15, 27-25; Erskine defeated Brenau 23-25, 25-19, 25-21, 25-23; Carson-Newman beat UNCP 28-26, 28-26, 20-25, 25-18; and UNCP played Brenau in the late match.
Francis Marion Univ. def. Erskine College 25-20,13-25,25-22,25-18
Erskine College (1-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Sandra Campbell 12-1-6; Alison Albers 10-0-1; Liz Massey 8-1-2; Lauren Stewart 6-1-0; Larz Chabra 6-0-1; Gabby Dierickx 2-0-1; Mary Crawford James 2-0-2; Brooke Dodge 1-2-0; Julie Jackson 0-1-0; Totals 47-6-7.0. (Assists) - Larz Chabra 35. (Dig leaders) - Liz Massey 18; Brooke Dodge 17; Julie Jackson 15; Larz Chabra 8
Francis Marion Univ. (2-0) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Crook, Ashlee 10-0-1; Mitchell, Amanda 10-1-4; Eggert, Mallory 9-3-3; Forester, Riley 8-2-0; Legg, Hallie 3-0-0; Parker, Danielle 3-0-2; Bennett, Nicole 1-1-0; Drewry, Liz 1-0-0; Perreault, Paige 0-1-0; Totals 45-8-5.0. (Assists) - Legg, Hallie 20; Bennett, Nicole 18. (Dig leaders) - Deaton, Kelsie 15; Bennett, Nicole 12; Legg, Hallie 11; Crook, Ashlee 10; Drewry, Liz 9
Site: Florence, SC (Smith Univ. Center) Date: Sep 03, 2010 Attend: 151 Time: 1:49 Referees: Greg Fletcher, Richard Holstead FMU Invitational Tournament in Florence, SC Liberos: Deaton (FMU), Dodge (Erskine)
Francis Marion Univ. def. Barton College 25-19,25-15,25-21 Barton College (0-2) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Melissa Ritter 12-2-0; Kati Wood 8-0-0; Meagan Parrott 5-1-0; Shanae Winston 2-0-3; Chancey Sebranek 2-0-0; Jordan Lee 1-0-0; Carly Love 0-1-0; Kristen Peschock 0-1-0; Totals 30-5-3.0. (Assists) - Carly Love 17. (Dig leaders) - Kristen Peschock 11; Melissa Ritter 10
Francis Marion Univ. (1-0) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Crook, Ashlee 15-0-1; Forester, Riley 9-4-1; Mitchell, Amanda 6-2-3; Parker, Danielle 6-0-6; Eggert, Mallory 3-0-1; Bennett, Nicole 2-0-2; Legg, Hallie 1-0-0; Deaton, Kelsie 1-1-0; Totals 43-7-8.0. (Assists) - Bennett, Nicole 31. (Dig leaders) - Deaton, Kelsie 13; Crook, Ashlee 7
Site: Florence, SC (Smith Univ. Center) Date: Sep 03, 2010 Attend: 100 Time: 1:09 Referees: Tony Hill, Greg Fletcher FMU Invitational Tournament in Florence, SC Liberos: Deaton (FMU), Peschock (Barton)
