ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. – Franklin & Marshall downed host Elizabethtown 3-1 (25-21, 25-23, 25-27, 25-17) before knocking off Penn St. – Berks by a 3-0 score (25-19, 25-20, 25-11) in non-conference volleyball action on Saturday afternoon. The two wins moved the Diplomats' record to 3-0, while the Blue Jays dropped to 1-1 and Nittany Lions fell to 1-2.

Elizabethtown battled F&M in the opening set, keeping the score close at 10-9, before the Diplomats took 11 of the next 15 points to extend the lead to 21-13. The Blue Jays were able to come to within two at 21-19, but F&M eventually captured the first set 25-21.

The second set was also tight, as Elizabethtown led 15-11 before an attack error tied the set at 17-17. From there, the teams traded points back-and-forth as it was 24-23 Diplomats until a Julie Harvey kill clinched the second set.

F&M maintained a 24-20 lead in the third set until the Blue Jays rattled off five straight points to take a 25-24 advantage. The Diplomats tied it at 25-25 after a Katie Foreman kill, but Elizabethtown scored the next two points to win the set at 27-25 and stay alive. 

In the fourth, both teams battled, as the score was tied 17-17, however F&M scored eight consecutive points to clinch the victory. 

Ellie Ezekiel paced the offense with 17 kills and a .412 hitting percentage, while Caroline Hubbard recorded 48 assists. Julie Harvey was also sharp, tallying 10 kills and Alyssa Sanchez notched 19 digs. Parys Zambas and Jaclyn Laforgia each added 11 digs.

Against Penn St. – Berks, F&M downed the Nittany Lions 25-19 in the first set with a total of 14 kills. In the second set, Penn St. – Berks kept the score a little closer, however the Diplomats came away by a score of 25-20 to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

In the final set, F&M cruised 25-11 thanks to 11 kills, just one error, and a .455 hitting percentage as the Diplomats swept the Nittany Lions 3-0.

Ezekiel again led F&M with eight kills, while Cassie Garison added six. Hubbard was solid with 26 assists, while Alyssa Sanchez led the Diplomats with 11 digs. 

F&M returns to action on Wednesday when the Diplomats host York (Pa.) at 7:00 p.m.