HUNTSVILLE, AL – Host University of Alabama-Huntsville swept to a 3-0 (30-26, 30-23, 30-27) win over Francis Marion University on the opening day of the UAH/Country Inn & Suites Volleyball Invitational, Friday afternoon (Sept. 14).

FMU drops to 4-11 with its eighth consecutive loss, while UAH improves to 4-10.  Tournament action continues on Friday and Saturday.  The Patriots will play the University of West Florida later Friday evening.

Sophomore Krissy Mordini led Francis Marion with 14 kills, while senior Jackie Phiel added six kills and a team-high 11 digs.  Sophomore setter Jess O’Leary dished out 31 assists.

The Patriots tied the score on three occasions early in game one, but never led.  After FMU took an early 7-4 advantage in game two, UAH answered with a 9-1 run to take the lead for good en route to the 30-23 victory.  Francis Marion led late in game three, at 22-21, but the Chargers rallied to finish out the match.

Alabama-Huntsville def. Francis Marion Univ. 30-26,30-23,30-27

Francis Marion Univ. (4-11) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Mordini, Krissy

14-1-1; Phiel, Jackie 6-1-1; Eggert, Mallory 6-0-2; Lombardi, Jessica

5-1-2; Settergren, Michelle 5-0-1; O'Leary, Jess 2-0-1; Deaton, Kelsie

0-1-0; Totals 38-4-4.0. (Assists) - O'Leary, Jess 31. (Dig leaders) -

Phiel, Jackie 11; Deaton, Kelsie 7

Alabama-Huntsville (4-10) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Kelly Ingram 13-0-5;

Amanda Smith 9-0-3; Shannon Polkowski 9-2-2; Ann Ledford 7-1-0;

Allison Cousins 7-0-5; Carrie Brown 4-0-1; Yuki Kurihara 1-0-0;

Jessica Huckabee 0-1-0; Whitney Corder 0-1-0; Totals 50-5-9.0.

(Assists) - Jessica Huckabee 22; Yuki Kurihara 20. (Dig leaders) -

Whitney Corder 10; Yuki Kurihara 8

Site: Huntsville, AL (Spragins Hall)

Date: Sep 14, 2007   Attend: 150   Time: 1:20

Referees: Patsy Burke, Ginger Lowe

UAH/Country Inn & Suites Invite in Huntsville, Ala