NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Franklin & Marshall's volleyball squad continues its buzz saw early season schedule dropping four matches over the weekend at the Christopher Newport Invitational. F&M fell to two opponents ranked in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 in being swept 3-0 by both #3 Emory and #24 Christopher Newport on Saturday. F&M fell 3-0 to Southern Virginia and 3-1 to West Virginia Wesleyan on Friday night.

“We're playing pretty good ball right now,” said F&M's Head Coach, Mary Kate Boland. “We just happen to have a very tough schedule.”

F&M is 1-9 through the first ten matches of the season, but the win came in Centennial Conference play over Washington, F&M's only Centennial match of the season thus far. The schedule doesn't get any easier in the short run. The Diplomats will travel to #1 Juniata this week.

In the 3-0 (25-14, 25-13, 26-24) loss to Southern Virginia Friday evening, F&M received six kills and 12 digs from Erica Spangler to go along with eight kills and seven digs from Margot Phelan.

The Diplomats closed out Friday's competition with a 3-1 (25-18, 25-20, 19-25, 25-19) loss to Virginia Wesleyan. Spangler posted a 10-kill, 10-dig effort while Phelan threw in nine kills and 14 digs. Mariah Eble recorded nine kills and Val Pusateri funneled the hitters 21 assists and kept play alive eight times. Stephanie Armstrong added 11 digs and two aces to the F&M cause.

Nicole Morano and Phelan each posted five kills to lead F&M in the 3-0 loss to #24 Christopher Newport. Phelan had 11 digs, Morano offered six, while Lis Power chipped in with eight. Val Pusateri set up 13 of F&M's 20 kills in the match. Pam Horner accounted six assists.

Details from the Emory match are not available at this time. Check back on GoDiplomats for updated results and box scores from the weekend's competition.