WAYNE, N.J. – The Franklin & Marshall volleyball team fell to host William Paterson on Thursday night by a 3-0 score (25-19, 25-22, 25-21). The Pioneers (10-5) hit .262 as a team to hand the Diplomats (12-3) just their third loss during their first 15 matches of the 2024 season.

Seven different Diplomats registered multiple kills on Thursday night, led by Ceci Connolly's nine kills. Avery Grantham hit a team-best .385 with six kills and just one error in 15 attempts. Carly Campbell was another first-year standout as she dished out 25 assists, while senior Bella Ganfield led the team with 17 digs.

The first set saw the hosts race out to a 9-3 lead. F&M closed that margin to 22-18 before William Paterson took a 1-0 lead. The second game was the tightest by score as the Diplomats were leading 11-7 before the Pioneers won nine consecutive points. A block from Campbell and Mya Anderson got the set to 24-22 before F&M was finally denied on its fifth chance defending a game point.

Franklin & Marshall and William Paterson were tied on twelve different occasions during the final set. The last of those deadlocked scores came at 14-all. A service ace from Maile Lani Sugamura down the stretch got F&M back within a point at 20-19 before the Pioneers closed the match on a 5-2 run to secure the sweep.

Volleyball will look to return to its winning ways this Saturday when the Diplomats return to Centennial Conference action at Washington College. The Diplomats are currently 1-0 in Centennial Conference action with their first serve this weekend against the Shorewomen set for 1 p.m. in Chestertown.