Box Score FLORENCE, SC – The Emmanuel Women's Volleyball team hit the road this weekend for a conference test against Francis Marion University. The match was competitive from the start, but the Lions outlasted the Patriots to take the first set, 25-21. The Patriots responded to win set two, 26-24, but the Lions rallied to close out the game strong winning the fial two sets, 25-23, 26-24 to win the game, 3-1. With the win, the Lions move to 7-5 on the season, 4-1 in conference play. 

The teams traded points and the lead early in the first set, with Brianna Bigelow, Paige Hill and Cailin Pritchard getting in on the action. With the Lions up 12-7, Francis Marion answered with a 5-0 run to tie the set at 12-12. The Lions rallied behind kills from Hill and Ellie Jackson to pull ahead late, 21-16. The Patriots closed the gap to pull within three points, but kills by Marusa Pesut and Jackson closed the door, giving the Lions the first set, 25-21.

The teams continued to compete in the second set, with both teams making key plays. With the set tied at 14-14 midway through, the Patriots pulled ahead to take a 21-18 lead late. Up 24-20 and looking for their set point, the Lions went on a 4-0 run with points by Natalie Wilson and Paige Hill to tie the set at 24-24. The Patriots closed the set strong, scoring the final two points to earn the 26-24 set two win.

The Lions responded in set three. After the two teams went back and forth early on, the Lions used a 4-0 run made up of a service ace by Madelyn Banton and kills from Jackson, Pritchard and Hill to go up 15-10. The Patriots answered to tie the set at 18-18, but the Lions pulled ahead yet again on kills from Pritchard and Hill to go up, 22-18. FMU used a 4-0 run to tie the set at 22-22, but the Lions closed the set on a kill from Pesut and attack errors by the Patriots to win the set, 25-23. 

The fourth set saw the Patriots go up 10-5 early, but the Lions used kills from Jackson, Hill and Pritchard to keep things close at 13-10. Francis Marion responded with a 5-0 run to go up 18-10, but the Lions used kills from Wilson and an ace from Jackson to cut into the Patriots lead, 20-16. Late in the set with the Patriots up, 23-16 the Lions rallied behind kills from Jada Porter, Brooke Lee, and Pesut to cut Francis Marion's lead to 23-21. The Lions closed the set strong on attack errors by the Patriots and kills from Jackson and Lee to give the Lions the set four win, 26-24 and the game, 3-1.

Overall, the Lions had 56 kills. 5 aces, 8 blocks, 52 assists, and 87 digs.

Ellie Jackson led the Lions in kills (15) and digs (26) with Paige Hill also picking up a double-double (14 kills, 11 digs). Marusa Pesut contributed 42 assists, with Madelyn Banton leading the Lions in aces with 2. Cailin Pritchard and Pesut led the Lions in blocks with 5 apiece. 

Next, the Lions will travel to Pembroke, NC to face the UNC Pembroke Braves in conference action tomorrow at 2PM. 

For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.