SWARTHMORE, Pa.- Third-seed (RV) Franklin & Marshall (23-6, 8-2 CC) fell just short of a reverse sweep in the Centennial Conference Tournament Semifinal, as they fell in five sets (16-25, 16-25, 25-23, 25-23, 10-15) to second seed Swarthmore (17-9, 8-2 CC) on Friday night.
Coco Shultz totaled a career-high 21 kills with a .306 hitting percentage, while she posted a team high four aces from the service line and 13 digs, also a team-best. Ceci Connolly (12 kills) and Gianna Mangiamele (10) both eclipsed double-digits for kills. Mya Anderson and Mangiamele each had two solo blocks and four block assists. Liah Perez and Carly Campbell split setting duties, with Perez collecting 30 and Campbell totaling 20.
F&M drew a 3-2 lead to start set one, but the Garnet strung together a five-point run, ending on an ace, to force an F&M timeout with the Diplomats down 7-3. F&M took two points followed by three for the Garnet who now led 10-5. They pushed to a 15-8 lead, as the Diplomats used their second timeout of the set. F&M got within five points at 16-11, 18-13, and 20-15, but could get no closer, eventually falling in set one 25-16 with Swarthmore taking the final three points at 25-16.
The Garnet started the second set with a 4-1 advantage that was soon pushed to 7-4. A kill and ace from Shultz alongside a Garnet attack error tied the set at seven apiece. Swarthmore gained a three-point lead at 12-9, but F&M yet again erased a three-point deficit with a trio of points, including two aces from Mikayla Smith. The teams traded serves three times up to 15-15 before Swarthmore took three straight points to force an F&M timeout. The Diplomats earned the first point back from the break with a block from Avery Grantham and Campbell, but Swarthmore regained momentum by taking five consecutive points, and the Diplomats used another timeout down 23-16. Swarthmore took the next two points, ending set two on an ace.
F&M stayed within striking distance in set three, trailing for much of the set before staving off elimination on a late rally. F&M were able to take a 4-3 lead off a three-point run featuring a pair of Mangiamele kills and a block from Shultz and Grantham. The Garnet took six of seven points to control things at 9-5. A kill and ace from Shultz stalled Swarthmore's momentum, with the sides trading points a few times following the two Shultz points. Down 14-9, The Diplomats closed the gap to one via a kill from Connolly, a block from Anderson and Managiamele, two kills from Shultz. Swarthmore took three of four points following this to lead 17-14. Following two straight kills to bring the Garnet lead to 22-18, F&M used a timeout. They stormed back, taking four of five points to incite a Garnet timeout down just a point at 23-22. F&M took the next two points to reach set point, with Swarthmore using their second timeout. A solo block from Mangiamele gave F&M set three.
A 6-1 start for F&M in set four caused an early timeout for Swarthmore. The teams returned from the break mostly trading points through the middle stages. Back-to-back points on a kill from Shultz and an ace from Melissa Benkowitz brought the F&M lead to 17-10, and Swarthmore called a second timeout. After another Benkowitz ace to restart, Swarthmore went on a 6-0 run. A Mangiamele kill paused momentum for a momentum, as the Garnet took two more points and F&M used a timeout with a 19-18 lead. Swarthmore went on a four-point run to lead 22-19. F&M went on a four-point run of their own with a block and kill from Grantham alongside a Shultz ace to lead 23-22. Swarthmore tied things up followed by back-to-back Connolly kills to send the match to a fifth set.
The teams traded points to start the fifth set, with Swarthmore soon gaining a lead off back-to-back points. The teams traded serves with Swarthmore reaching eight points ahead 8-5 to switch sides. F&M took three of five points on the return to stay within striking distance, down 10-8. A Diplomat attack error was followed by back-to-back Shultz kills to close the gap to one point. Two points for Swarthmore brought their lead to 13-10, and F&M used a timeout. Back-to-back blocks upon returning denied a reverse sweep for the Diplomats.
Volleyball will now await the NCAA Division III volleyball selection show for the announcement of at-large bids to the national tournament. The NCAA selection show will be streamed live on NCAA.com on Monday, November 18 at 1 p.m. The Diplomats have certainly put together a strong case for an at-large bid with their 23-6 season record that has them ranked 19th in the latest NCAA Power Index. The 64-team field for the 2024 national tournament will consist of 43 automatic qualifiers and 19 at-large teams.
