Game Notes

Last Time Out

The Franklin & Marshall volleyball team put its eight-match winning streak to the ultimate test last weekend as it traveled to Juniata to face the two-time defending national champion and top-ranked Eagles. The Diplomats saw their winning streak come to an end in the opening match of the day, but quickly bounced back with the team's eighth sweep of the season as the team ran its record to 10-2 with the latest victory over Muskingum. F&M entered today's action receiving votes in the most recent national polls. Against Juniata, Gianna Mangiamele led the F&M offense with nine kills during the first match, with Mya Anderson adding five more. Liah Perez dished out half of the team's 24 assists during the showdown with the nation's No. 1 team, in addition to a pair of service aces. During the win versus Muskingum, rebounded after a short break and went up 2-0 with consecutive 25-17 game victories. The third set ended up being the tightest final score of the second match despite F&M holding a 24-16 lead. Nevertheless, Muskingum would not go down without a battle as the Muskies fought off seven straight match points before Perez got a kill to lockdown the team's sweep and 1-1 day.

Lancaster Bible Preview

The Diplomats and Chargers have become very familiar opponents in recent history as they have met 10 times during the past 12 seasons. F&M has dropped just four sets during that time with the closest match in recent history coming in 2012 when the teams went to a decisive fifth game before F&M won 19-17 in extra points during that ultimate tiebreak. Like the Diplomats, the Chargers are off to a very strong start to the 2024 season as they currently own a record of 12-3 on the year. Both teams have already played Messiah, Elizabethtown, and York (Pa.). The Diplomats are 3-0 against those opponents while one of LBC's losses on the year has come in five sets to Messiah. Lea Sareyka is the player to watch offensively for the Chargers as she has a team-high 188 points on the season and is averaging 2.72 kills per set. She is one of four players who have over 100 points this season through LBC's first 15 matches.

Muhlenberg Preview

Muhlenberg is 5-5 on the year as both teams get set for their Centennial Conference opener. The only common opponent on the season to date is Eastern, with the Eagles defeating both squads. F&M dropped a hard-fought five-set match against Eastern during the opening weekend of the season while the Eagles dispatched of the Mules in three. Saturday's conference opener will also be a rematch of last year's first round playoff match where the Diplomats won in four sets. Liah Perez recorded her 1,000 career assist during that playoff victory while Gianna Mangiamele led F&M with 13 kills. Christina Marcin, Esmae Oehler, and Rachel Jacobs are each averaging over two kills per set through the team's first five matches. The Mules will battle Rown in non-conference action on Thursday before hosting F&M on Saturday.

Centennial Conference Leaders from Franklin & Marshall (Top 10)

Hitting Percentage
6. Avery Grantham (.325)
10. Mya Anderson (.292)

Kills/set
10. Gianna Mangiamele (2.78)

Assists/set
5. Liah Perez (5.32)

Service Aces/set
5. Melissa Benkowitz (0.64)

Blocks /set
8. Avery Grantham (0.73)

Points/set
9. Coco Shultz (3.20)