LANCASTER, PA - Susan Taylor (So. The Woodlands, TX/ John Cooper) had a match-high 26 kills with nine blocks and two service aces as the Franklin & Marshall Volleyball team fell to Haverford College 2-3 (30-27, 24-30, 26-30, 30-9, 14-16) in Centennial Conference action at the Mayser Center.

Labero Meghan Godorov (Sr./ Orefield, PA/ Parkland) recorded eight kills and 18 digs on the match to increase her career digs record to 1646, surpassing Melynne Strufft '00 (1643) on the Franklin & Marshall All-Time Careers Digs list to move into third.

Additionally, Jackie Skibbie (Sr., Darby, PA/ Merion Mercy) recorded 49 assists, 14 digs, and 2 service aces and is currently ranked fifth on the Franklin & Marshall All-Time Careers Assists list with 2463, which is 222 assists shy of fourth place Jennifer Grue '04 (2685).

In the first game of the night, both teams struggled to find their service groove, resulting in very back and fourth play. Haverford called a timeout when F&M led 16-13, and the Fords took immediate control after the break, winning four of the next five points. The Diplomats were forced to call a timeout with the score at 25-24, and Nicole Kushman (Sr., Chalfont, PA/ Central Bucks West) and Margot Phelan (Fr., Ellicott City, MD/ Centennial) finished the Diplomats' 30-27 win, as they recorded important kills in the last minutes of the game.

In the second game, the Diplomats took a quick 6-1 lead, only to allow the Fords to surpass them and take a four-point lead at 8-12. F&M took two consecutive timeouts but was unable to put a substantial dent in the Ford lead. F&M managed to close in on a seven-point gap with a service run by Taylor, but it was not enough, and the Diplomats fell 24-30.

The third game was very back and fourth, and although F&M grabbed an early 10-4 lead, the Fords slowly fought back to go up by one at 16-17 and force the Diplomats to call a timeout. Unable to finish, and plagued by an injury, F&M lost 26-30.

The Diplomats finally found their service game, as Kushman took the team on a 13 point run to lead the Fords 17-1 before the Fords exhausted both of their timeouts. With a number of important kills by Taylor, F&M overtook the Fords 30-9.

Unfortunately, the Diplomats could not keep their momentum, and the Fords jumped out to a quick 3-7 lead before the first F&M timeout. Battling back, Taylor recorded a number of important kills that enabled F&M to pull within one at 11-12, but it was not enough to take home the win, as the Fords finished the Diplomats 16-14 to win the Centennial Conference battle.

Historically, F&M (8-2, 2-1) holds a 16-5 record against the Fords, having not been defeated at home by Haverford in more than a decade. Additionally, the Diplomats downed the Fords in three straight games September 17 at the Lebanon Valley Invitational.

Franklin & Marshall will continue Centennial Conference play as they travel to Ursinus College September 27. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.