BALTIMORE, MD - Setter Jackie Skibbie (Sr., Darby, PA/Merion Mercy) recorded 30 assists, 14 digs and three kills, but Johns Hopkins University defeated Franklin & Marshall 3-1 (30-14, 22-30, 30-23, 30-23) at Goldfarb Gymnasium in Centennial Conference volleyball.

In the first game, Hopkins came out strong taking a quick 8-1 lead before F&M called its first timeout. The Diplomats fell behind 10-0 before scoring their first point to pull to within nine. Middle hitter Susan Taylor (So., The Woodlands, TX/John Cooper) initiated the team's comeback attempt with a 3-0 service run, but it was not enough as F&M dropped the first game 30-14.

The Diplomats picked up the pace in the second game by scoring the first four points to take the lead for good in the game. The Blue Jays pulled to within five points at 19-14, but Franklin & Marshall closed out the game for a 30-22 win to knot the match at 1-1.

However, JHU jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the third game before F&M took a 10-8 lead. Hopkins tied the game at 10-10 as the Blue Jays scored the next seven points.

Trailing 22-14, the Diplomats called a timeout and returned to win the first point off a kill from Taylor. F&M pulled to within five at 25-20, but Hopkins held on for a 30-23 win to take a 2-1 advantage.

Hopkins closed out the match in game four as the Blue Jays built a 10-4 lead and pushed the margin out to 12 points. Libero Meghan Godorov (Sr., Orefield, PA/Parkland) led the team on a 5-0 service run to pull within six points, but JHU held on for a 30-23 win to close out the match.

Godorov recorded one assist and 23 digs, while outside hitter Margot Phelan (Fr., Ellicott City, MD/Centennial) contributed 12 kills, an assist and six digs and Taylor added 11 kills, three digs and three blocks to lead the Diplomats.

The loss moves F&M into fifth place in the Centennial Conference standings as the Diplomats (11-4, 4-2 Centennial Conference) trail McDaniel (9-7, 5-1 CC), Haverford (12-5, 4-1 CC), Hopkins (17-5, 3-1 CC) and Gettysburg (11-9, 5-2 CC). However, the top teams have been competitive as Gettysburg lost to McDaniel and F&M, McDaniel lost to Swarthmore, F&M lost to Haverford and Hopkins, while Hopkins and Haverford both lost to Gettysburg.

Historically, the match marked the 27th meeting between the Diplomats and the Blue Jays since 1987 with F&M holding an 18-9 advantage in the series. The win increases the Blue Jay's record at home to 11-0 this season as Hopkins has won 17 in a row at Goldfarb dating back to October 12 of last year.

The key to the series has been the location of the match as F&M is 7-0 in the Mayser Center 2-3 in Goldfarb since 1996, as the Diplomats have not recorded a win against JHU in Baltimore since a 3-2 victory on September 23, 1999.

Franklin & Marshall will continue the season on October 11 at home versus McDaniel College in the Mayser Center. Match time is set for 7:00 p.m.