GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Franklin & Marshall College won the final two sets to clinch a 3-2 (25-21, 17-25, 16-25, 25-22, 15-11) victory over Gettysburg College in Centennial Conference volleyball action inside Bream Gym Wednesday evening.
Playing beyond three sets seemed almost a guarantee between the two conference contenders with every meeting since the 2011 postseason going at least four frames. Wednesday's contest was the fifth time in the last eight meetings Gettysburg (15-4, 4-2 CC) and Franklin & Marshall (17-5, 7-0 CC) have played the full five sets.
The Diplomats weathered an early run by the Bullets in the opening set, erasing a 7-1 deficit and surging in front 18-17 following a 10-2 run. Gettysburg pulled to 21-20 on an ace by junior
Melissa Tringali (Cold Spring, N.Y./Haldane), but a kill by Casey Morrow kicked off a set-ending 4-1 run for the visitors.
The Orange and Blue came out on top in a back-and-forth battle in the second set. The contest featured nine ties and five lead changes before junior
Sierra Conboy (Ventura, Calif./Ventura) sparked Gettysburg with three kills as part of a 9-3 run to close the contest.
Gettysburg led nearly the whole way in a 25-16 victory in the third set to take a 2-1 advantage. The lead was short-lived as Franklin & Marshall burst out to a 7-1 lead in the fourth set and held off a late charge by the Bullets by netting the final three points for a 25-22 decision.
The Diplomats revved up their attack and hit .240 in the final set with Allison Franke tallying four kills. The visitors jumped out to a quick lead and pulled in front 12-5 on a kill by Franke. Gettysburg closed the gap to 14-11 before Morrow put down the match-clinching kill.
Sophomore
Allie Stranick (Havertown, Pa./Merion Mercy) recorded her eighth double-double of the season with 12 kills and 11 digs for the Bullets. Junior
Francesca Garison (Metuchen, N.J./John F. Kennedy Memorial) also picked up a double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs, while junior
Shannon Fletcher (Severna Park, Md./Severan Park) posted 10 kills.
Freshman
Sarah Ellis (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) logged 12 assists and seven digs. Junior
Caroline Sequeira (Millington, N.J./Watchung Hills) led the defensive effort with 26 digs.
Franke posted 13 kills to lead F&M. Morrow recorded 10 kills and had a hand in seven of the Diplomats' 12 blocks. Grace Maggiore tallied 40 assists, three aces, and 15 digs. Carlita Bozzo led the back row with 17 digs.
Gettysburg hosts Muhlenberg College on Saturday at 1 p.m.
