LANCASTER, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall volleyball team, a squad continuing to receive votes in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA )Top 25 Poll, took down Dickinson in straight sets (25-21, 25-15, 25-15) on Wednesday evening. The Diplomats (14-3 overall) improved to a perfect 3-0 in Centennial Conference action with their 11th sweep of the season.
Coco Shultz led the Diplomats with 12 kills as part of a double-double where she additionally registered a team-best 13 digs. Ceci Connolly recorded nine kills, while Gianna Mangiamele had eight kills against just one error in 13 swings for a .538 hitting percentage. Mya Anderson also hit .500 with kills on half of her 12 swings, with Avery Grantham making it five Diplomats with at least six kills on the night.
Franklin & Marshall led for the vast majority of Wednesday night's action as the Red Devils held their only lead during the opening game and that came at 2-1 before the Diplomats took the lead and never looked back. Dickinson had its deficit down to 13-12, but four straight points from Shultz at the service line created some separation in the 25-21 final. The hosts hit .444 during the second set on as they jumped out to a 6-0 lead behind the service of Liah Perez.
That second set lead grew to as much as 19-7 before the first of back-to-back 25-15 wins to clinch the conference victory. F&M scored seven consecutive points to build its lead to 9-2 early in the final set to seal the win. Emily Dean toed the service line for that run. The hosts held their largest lead of the set at 24-14 before a kill from Connolly closed out the strong performance.
Perez led the team with 21 assists, while Campbell adding 15 more helpers. F&M held Dickinson to a .075 hitting percentage as the Red Devils totaled 28 kills and 20 errors thanks in part to six blocks from the F&M front line. Grantham had three blocks, including one solo effort to lead that charge.
Volleyball will be back at home this coming Saturday for another Centennial Conference match when it takes on Bryn Mawr at 1 p.m. inside the Mayser Center.
