SWARTHMORE, Pa. – Franklin & Marshall headed to Swarthmore on Wednesday night for the first Centennial Conference (CC) matchup of the 2016 volleyball season, dropping a 3-1 decision to the Garnet. The Diplomats fell to 8-5, 0-1 CC with the defeat, while Swarthmore moved to 10-1, 2-0 CC.

The Garnet took control early in the first, taking leads of 9-5 and 12-7 in the early going. F&M pulled to within one at 17-16 following a kill by Allison Edelstein, but a 5-1 run from the hosts returned the lead and gave the set to Swarthmore, 25-20.

The Diplomats took charge in the second, getting three kills from three different players in a 5-0 run to make the score 5-1. The Garnet got as close as two at 11-9, but could not close the gap as Edelstein and Grace Polisano served F&M to a 9-1 run and a 20-11 lead. Sarah Landry logged four kills and Ellie Ezekiel notched three as the Diplomats dominated in the second set, winning 25-15.

A tight third set saw the scores even at 12-12, with Swarthmore taking a slim 18-14 lead on the back of a 6-2 run. The Garnet slowly pulled away, eventually winning the frame 25-18.

Swarthmore continued to lead in the fourth, holding a slim two-point lead at 14-12. F&M did not go away, put never erased the deficit and fell in the set, 25-18.

Ezekiel led the Diplomat attack with 12 kills, with Polisano adding eight and Landry seven. Edelstein dished out 33 assists in the effort.

Mary Leneweaver led the defense with 23 digs, while Shae Murphy (15), Edelstein (15), Ezekiel (14), and Polisano (13) also reached double digits.

CC action continues on Saturday as the Diplomats host Ursinus at 12:00 p.m.