Francis Marion Wins PBC Volleyball Tournament
Patriots Stun Pirates With 3-0 Sweep
Web Posted 11/12/05

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- The Francis Marion Patriots, playing with dogged determination, swept away the Armstrong Atlantic State Pirates 3-0 to win the 2005 PBC Volleyball Tournament on Saturday in Augusta. That FMU won the match is not surprising, but the way they did it certainly was. FMU, the #2 seed in the tournament, survived opening runs in games one and two, rebounding both times with long scoring runs of their own to take the crown 30-23, 30-20 and 30-27. FMU earns the Peach Belt’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament next week with a 29-10 overall record while AASU falls to 22-12 and may have played their last game of the year as they will wait and see if they earn an at-large berth.

AASU, after sweeping USC Aiken in the semifinals, looked every bit as sharp as they took the court on Saturday, running out to a quick 5-1 lead before FMU took an early timeout. That strategy worked as FMU came back with a 7-1 run that opened up a lead AASU was not able to cut into. The same pattern held true in game two as FMU cruised to a win. Game three was the closest of the match as the two teams were tied at 27 until FMU took a one-point lead following an ace from Kelly Feber. FMU won the match after an attack error and a lifting call against AASU.

FMU libero Jessica Strader was named the tournament MVP. FMU was deadly with her on serve, at one point collecting seven straight points in game two, four of those Strader aces. Strader finished the day with 24 digs and eight aces. Jessica Bartlett had 11 kills to lead the Patriots while Kelly Feber added 10 and Jenna Kaiser had 37 assists.

AASU struggled to find their game on offense, hitting .136 as a team. Leah Schmiedge was the only Pirate to reach double-figures in kills with 10 while Margaret Thornton added 21 assists and Rindy Vidovich 21 digs.

FMU will advance to the NCAA South Regional next weekend, their first appearance in the tournament since 1998, which was also the last time the Patriots won the PBC Tournament.

Joining Strader on the All-Tournament team from Francis Marion were Jessica Bartlett and Jenna Kaiser. AASU’s Traci Knuth was named All-Tournament along with USC Aiken’s Mandy Gerolstein and USC Upstate’s Mandy Rupert.