FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 10-27-06

College Volleyball: Francis Marion 3, AASU 1

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Francis Marion University earned a share of the 2006 Peach Belt Conference regular season volleyball title with a 3-1 victory over host Armstrong Atlantic State on Friday evening in Savannah. Game scores were: 22-30, 30-22, 30-28, 30-28.

The Patriots (25-7, 10-2 PBC) will now await Saturday’s action to see who might join them atop the league standings. Armstrong Atlantic (17-13, 9-2) needs a win in Saturday’s 4:00 p.m. match against UNC Pembroke to tie Francis Marion for the title, while USC Aiken – also at 9-2 in the league - will need a win at USC Upstate at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday to join the possible tie for the title.

The final-day drama was made possible in part because of an injury in pre-game warm-ups to AASU senior middle hitter Traci Knuth, who rolled her ankle after landing on a teammate just 15 minutes prior to the match. The Pirates played on emotion to pick up a win in game one, but Francis Marion held the Pirates to a .116 hitting percentage over the last three games to take the match, FMU’s first win over AASU in Savannah since 1998.

Francis Marion middle hitter Lezlie Logan led all players on the evening with 21 kills, five blocks and a .366 hitting percentage. Jessica Lombardi added 10 kills and 17 digs, while Jenna Kaiser tallied 41 assists and PBC career dig leader Jessica Strader notched 25 digs.

Armstrong Atlantic was led by senior Adriana Miller’s 18 kills and 26 digs, while senior Leah Schmiedge notched 16 kills and junior Rindy Vidovich added 10. Margaret Thornton tallied 30 assists and 17 digs as well for the Pirates.

- Pirates -