ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Franklin & Marshall's volleyball team dropped a 3-1 decision to Muhlenberg before rebounding with a 3-0 sweep of Union on Saturday at a trimatch hosted by the Mules. The split moved the Diplomats to 15-7, 4-3 CC on the year.

Following a defeat in match one, F&M got back on track in the second contest of the day against Union. The first set saw the teams stay close as the Dutchwomen held a slim 9-8 lead, but the Diplomats responded with an 8-1 run thanks in part to three kills from Ellie Ezekiel. Union never got closer than four, and two more kills from Ezekiel closed out a 25-18 win.

The Diplomats once again used a 7-0 run in the middle of the second set, this time getting two aces from Grace Polisano to take a 17-13 edge. The back-and-forth action continued as Union tied the set at 18-18, only to have F&M retake a 23-18 advantage on the serve of Allison Edelstein. The set went down to the wire, but the Diplomats came out with a 25-23 victory to go up 2-0 in the match.

The third set offered none of the drama seen in the first two sets, with F&M reeling off 15 straight points to take a commanding 16-1 lead. The Dutchwomen never got back in the set, as F&M clinched the match with a 25-5 win.

Ezekiel led the offense with 16 kills in the match, while Polisano added eight and Cassie Garison tallied seven. Parys Zambas (14) and Mary Leneweaver (11) led the defense with double-digit digs.

Earlier in the day, F&M dropped a tough 3-1 decision after four tight sets. The opening frame went to Muhlenberg after the hosts reeled off three straight points to steal a 25-23 win.

The second set saw the Mules lead throughout, but a late Diplomat run saw the visitors come within three in the late stages. However, Muhlenberg held on for the 25-21 edge and a 2-0 lead.

The third set saw F&M come out on the right side of a close score, building a seven-point advantage in the middle of the set and holding on for a 25-19 win. Five kills by Ezekiel and four from Polisano let the Diplomats stay in the match.

The Mules took control early in the fourth, using a 4-0 lead for a 6-2 edge. That lead eventually grew to seven at 19-12, resulting in a 25-19 win for the hosts.

Ezekiel once again led the F&M offense with 15 kills, while Sarah Landry (12), Christine Yoo (10), and Polisano (10) all reached double digits.

Yoo added three block assists for the defense, while Leneweaver set a career high with 30 digs.

The Diplomats return to CC action next Saturday, visiting Washington at 12:00 p.m.