GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall volleyball team picked up two convincing victories to get back to its winning ways on Saturday afternoon at Messiah. The Diplomats started their day by handing host Messiah its first defeat of the season in four sets (23-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-11). After getting stronger throughout that first match, the Diplomats picked up their second sweep of the season against Houghton (25-19, 25-17, 25-15) during the afternoon.

Three Diplomats recorded double-digit kill totals during the win against Messiah, highlighted by Gianna Mangiamele's .571 hitting percentage with 13 kills. Coco Shultz and Sydney Levins were just behind her pace with 12 kills. Against Houghton, the team hit .302 with Levins (14 kills) and Shultz (13 kills) leading the offense. Mangiamele had another standout performance with 10 more kills and a .389 hitting percentage for the match as all three players once again finished in double figures. Liah Perez recorded 44 assists during the two victories, with 41 more from Hannah McCarthy. Meredith Mangum's 38 combined digs highlighted the defensive efforts, while Jada West added nine more blocks at the net.

Messiah jumped out to an 11-3 lead early to start the day to pace the only set F&M lost. Even despite the early deficit, the Diplomats made the hosts work for every point as they tied the match at 18 and were leading 23-22 before the final three points swung the game in Messiah's favor. Trailing just once in the second set, the Diplomats quickly answered with three consecutive points - and eight of the next nine - to level the match.

Outstanding hitting carried the third set in F&M's favor as it was doubling up the Falcons for much of the game before solidifying the 25-17 win. The Diplomats left no doubt during the fourth as they went up 5-0 before rolling to a 25-10 victory to clinch the victory.

Huge runs defined the first set against Houghton. The Diplomats were trailing 10-6 during the opening set before running off 15 of the next 19 points to go up 1-0. It was more consistent play that made the difference in the second set as Houghton earned just five points off its own serve while the Diplomats won their service points 11 times. Houghton won three straight points on its own serve to start the third set, but took just four more during the rest of that game as F&M locked up the sweep wtih a 25-17 victory.

After a perfect 2-0 weekend, the Diplomats will have a busier upcoming week as they play four matches in the coming seven days. That action starts Wednesday when the team travels to Elizabethtown for a 7 p.m. first serve. After a tri-match trip to Scranton, the team will finally get to play in front of its home fans again when the Diplomats welcome Ursinus to the Mayser Center on Saturday, September 24 for the Centennial Conference Opener that will get underway at 1 p.m.