WESTMINSTER, Md.- The (RV) Franklin & Marshall Volleyball Team (22-4, 8-1 CC) earned a win over Centennial Conference opponent McDaniel in three sets (25-10, 25-19, 25-20) on Wednesday night. With the win, Mary Kate Salko and
Chris Salko earned their 400th victory as a Diplomats coaching staff.
Gianna Mangiamele led the Diplomats' offense with nine kills and a .316 hitting percentage.
Ceci Connolly swung .312 with eight kills, and
Mya Anderson hit .462 with six kills.
Emily Dean tied a career high with five aces, while
Bella Ganfield led the Diplomats with 14 digs.
Avery Grantham had a team-high four blocks via four block assists alongside four kills.
The Diplomats hit an efficient .400 in the first set, winning by 15 points. The Diplomats held an early 6-2 lead, but the Green Terror closed the gap down to 8-6. F&M soon utilized a 4-0 run to build a 13-7 lead. Following a Green Terror kill, F&M claimed six of the next seven points for a 18-9 lead. They took the final seven points of the set, ending on a
Jillian Surkis kill.
McDaniel led 4-1 via three kills to begin set two. F&M took three straight points, including two Mangiamele kills, to tie things at 5-5. The teams swapped serves a few times until three consecutive McDaniel attack errors followed by two kills put F&M ahead 12-8. Another four-point run brought the set-two score to 19-11. F&M reached set point at 24-16, but the Green Terror fought off set-point three times before
Melissa Benkowitz ended the set on a kill.
A 5-0 run gave F&M a 7-3 lead to begin the third set, with a gap around this margin holding until a three-point run for the Green Terror tied the set at 15-15. F&M responded back with four straight points including an Anderson, Mangiamele block. McDaniel fired back with four points of their own, including a pair of blocks, to again draw level at 19-19. F&M called timeout and promptly responded with a Mangiamele kill and three consecutive Dean aces. F&M confirmed the match at 25-20 on a Connolly kill.
The Diplomats complete the regular season as they host #3 Johns Hopkins at the Mayser Gymnasium on Saturday, November 9, at 4:00 p.m.
