FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University rallied after losing the opening two games to claim a marathon 21-30, 23-30, 30-27, 30-27, 21-19 Peach Belt Conference win over USC Upstate, Friday night (Sept. 30) in women's volleyball action.

FMU improves to 14-7 overall and 2-1 in the PBC, USC Upstate (14-6, 3-1) loses for the first time this season in conference play.

Junior Lezlie Logan led FMU with a season-high 23 kills, while senior Kelly Feber recorded her 10th double-double of the year with 17 kills and 16 digs.  Freshman setter Jenna Kaiser came off the bench to hand out 38 assists, while digging out a career-high 17 balls.

Junior Mandy Rupert paced the Spartans with 28 kills, 20 digs, and two service aces.  Senior setter Shannon Pallardy dished out 64 assists and recorded 10 digs.  Lindsey Graue compiled 18 kills, while libero Erin Hagemann tallied 31 digs, the fourth-highest total ever in a Peach Belt match.

In each of the first four games, the victorious team took an early lead and held off the other squad.  The fifth and deciding game was a see-saw affair that saw both squads serve for the match several times.  FMU led 12-7, but USC Upstate rallied to knot the score at 12-12.  The game was later tied at 14-14, 15-15, 16-16, 17-17, 18-18, and 19-19.  Feber ended the two-hour, 19-minute marathon with kill off a set from Kaiser.

FMU will play host to PBC foe Lander University, Saturday at 1 p.m., while USC Upstate travels to UNC Pembroke for a 3 p.m. match on Saturday.

Francis Marion Univ. def. USC Upstate 21-30,23-30,30-27,30-27,21-19

USC Upstate (14-6, 3-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Rupert, Mandy 28-2-1; Graue, Lindsey 18-2-4; Mrowczynski, Lauren 14-0-3; Joraskie, Jennifer 10-0-2; Kunz, Kristen 9-0-3; Pallardy, Shannon 2-1-2; Leslie, Jenna 1-0-1; Harry, Brittany 1-2-0; Bush, Haley 0-1-0; Totals 83-8-10.0. (Assists) - Pallardy, Shannon 64. (Dig leaders) - Hagemann, Erin 31; Rupert, Mandy 20; Bush, Haley 12; Pallardy, Shannon 10

Francis Marion Univ. (14-7, 2-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Logan, Lezlie 23-0-3; Feber, Kelly 17-1-1; Lombardi, Jessica 11-2-5; Settergren, Michelle 10-0-3; Bartlett, Jessica 8-0-3; Kaiser, Jenna 4-0-2; Phiel, Jackie 3-2-0; Helgeson, Brittany 1-0-0; Strader, Jessica 0-1-0; Totals 77-6-10.0. (Assists) - Kaiser, Jenna 38; Helgeson, Brittany 15. (Dig leaders) - Kaiser, Jenna 17; Feber, Kelly 16; Phiel, Jackie 12; Strader, Jessica 12; Matthews, Rachael 10

Site: Florence, SC (Smith Univ. Center)

Date: Sep 30, 2005   Attend: 124   Time: 2:19

Referees: Allen Davis, Richard Holsteade

Liberos: Strader (FMU), Hagemann (Upstate)