MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – The Flagler College Saints recorded 12 total team blocks en route to a 3-1 (25-21, 26-24, 18-25, 25-13) win over Francis Marion University in a Peach Belt Conference Volleyball Tournament semifinal match Saturday afternoon at the Centennial Center.
Flagler, the No. 1 seed, improved to 22-6 overall and advances to its seventh PBC Tournament championship and third in a row. The Saints will look to defend its tournament title tomorrow (Nov. 20) at 2 p.m. against the winner of the USC Aiken-Armstrong State match. Francis Marion falls to 16-13 and will have to wait and see if it has earned an at-large berth to the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional.
Ashley Cheewah led the block party with a team-high six total (all solo) to go along with 10 kills and only one error on 17 swings for a .529 hitting percentage.
Sara Davis recorded a match-high 13 kills and added four blocks assists for the Saints.
Megan Hooks added 10 kills and five total blocks.
Taja Valmyr contributed eight kills, 10 digs and three total blocks.
Jenea Reddick tacked on seven kills, a .300 hitting percentage and three total blocks.
Tara Savisky recorded another double-double as she tallied 41 assists and had 10 digs. She also had two service aces.
Kayla Norelli scooped up a match-high 25 digs.
Erika Hartings led Francis Marion with 12 kills while Caroline Boone added 11 more. Georgia Garrison had nine kills and 15 digs, but was limited to a .024 hitting percentage. Natalie Vaughn collected 16 digs while Carrie McGinnis tallied 38 assists.
The Patriots hit .124 for the match which included a .000 mark in the fourth set alone.
The Saints prevailed in two close first sets before the Patriots would take the third set. Flagler took a quick 4-1 lead in the fourth set and never looked back. Davis and Cheewah both had four kills in the set as Davis finished with an .800 hitting percentage and Cheewah at .667. Davis also provided three block assists.
The Saints won their 11
th match in a row which is their longest winning streak since the 2011 team won 15 in a row.