LANCASTER, Pa. – Franklin & Marshall's volleyball team came out on top after a heated five-set match against Elizabethtown on Friday night, securing a back-and-forth 3-2 win. The Diplomats advanced to a 1-0 record while the Blue Jays fell to 0-1.

Elizabethtown got to an early start as Gabby Anders led a 5-0 run behind the service line in the first. The Diplomats were able to stay close, but a late run excelled the Blue Jays from 19-19 to 24-19 and eventually the win in the first set. 

Consistency at the net and attack errors on the side of the Blue Jays allowed the Diplomats to maintain a small deficit to win back the second set. Grace Polisano recorded six kills, while Cassie Garison finished with three for the 25-21 win.   

Grace Maggiore started the third set strong with an ace, and helped maintain a lead by assisting in kills for Casey Morrow, Christine Yoo, and Grace Polisano. Much like the previous set, the Diplomats and the Blue Jays battled for the lead throughout. A kill from Grace Polisano stopped the Blue Jays during a 4-0 run that tied the score at 22. A double block from Yoo and Delaney Hahn capped off a three-point run to finish the set at 25-22.  

Elizabethtown gained a quick lead to start the fourth set, but F&M was able to even out the score with Maggiore and Yoo consistently getting serves over the net. Tied at 25-25 late in the frame, an attack error followed by a kill from the Blue Jays forced a fifth set.

A Delaney Hahn kill tied the fifth set 3-3, followed by a Hahn service ace that secured F&M the lead the rest of the set. On match point, Grace Polisano delivered the match-winning kill to raise the Diplomats 15-12 over the Blue Jays.

Polisano led the offense with 20 kills, followed by freshman Hahn who tallied 14. The Diplomats out blocked the Blue Jays 7-4. Gabby Mavroidis cemented the F&M defense with 27 kills.

The Diplomats are back in action tomorrow hosting Lancaster Bible at 11:00 a.m., followed by Messiah at 1:30 p.m.