FLORENCE, S.C. – Junior Jessica Lombardi and senior Jackie Phiel both registered double-doubles and Francis Marion University cruised to 30-25, 30-26, 30-19 win over UNC Pembroke, Friday evening (Nov. 2) in Peach Belt Conference women’s volleyball action.
Francis Marion improved to 13-20 overall and 4-6 in the PBC, and FMU places fourth in the final regular-season conference standings. The Patriots will play in the Peach Belt Tournament next weekend in Greenwood, S.C., with the pairings being released on Sunday.
Lombardi tallied 16 kills and 14 digs for her team-leading 19th double-double of the year. Phiel celebrated Senior Night with 11 kills, 13 digs, and three service aces. Junior setter Jenna Kaiser handed out 38 assists and dug up 18 balls, while freshman libero Kelsie Deaton had a match-high 26 digs.
The Patriots’ other senior, Michelle Settergren, compiled four kills and two digs in her final home match.
Freshman Rachel Young paced UNCP (19-16, 3-7) with 10 kills. Junior setter Heather Fierce dished out 30 assists and recorded 20 digs.
Francis Marion never trailed in game two, and trailed only briefly (2-0) in the third contest.
The Braves close out their regular season on Tuesday when they host Catawba College at 6 p.m.
Francis Marion Univ. def. UNC Pembroke 30-25,30-26,30-19
UNC Pembroke (19-16, 3-7 PBC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Young, Rachel
10-0-1; O'Connor, Lizzie 6-0-1; Hartley, Jessica 5-0-5; Niesborella,
Rebekah 4-0-0; Anderson, Tiara 4-0-1; Fierce, Heather 3-0-1; Platow,
Heidi 2-0-0; Haworth, Caitlin 2-1-0; Johnson, Lacie 1-1-0; Rotz, Annie
1-0-0; Laza, Andrea 0-1-0; Totals 38-3-6.0. (Assists) - Fierce,
Heather 30. (Dig leaders) - Fierce, Heather 20; Laza, Andrea 18;
Haworth, Caitlin 13; Niesborella, Rebekah 13; Marbert, Kayla 10
Francis Marion Univ. (13-20, 4-6 PBC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Lombardi,
Jessica 16-2-3; Phiel, Jackie 11-3-1; Straiter, Kaitlin 9-3-2; Eggert,
Mallory 5-0-2; Kaiser, Jenna 5-1-1; Settergren, Michelle 4-0-1;
O'Leary, Jess 0-1-0; Deaton, Kelsie 0-1-0; Totals 50-11-5.0. (Assists)
- Kaiser, Jenna 38. (Dig leaders) - Deaton, Kelsie 26; Kaiser, Jenna
18; Koralewski, Karli 15; Lombardi, Jessica 14; Phiel, Jackie 13
Site: Florence, S.C. (Smith University Ctr)
Date: Nov 02, 2007 Attend: 230 Time: 1:32
Referees: Gayle Hughes, Tony Hill
