HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College volleyball team fell in straight sets to Franklin & Marshall, a team receiving votes in the latest AVCA Poll, with a final score of 3-0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-22) at Gooding '84 Arena on Saturday afternoon.
Despite a valiant effort from the Fords, the Diplomats' aggressive offense and disciplined play at the net proved difficult to overcome. With this loss, Haverford moves to 10-11 overall and 3-3 in Centennial Conference play, while Franklin & Marshall improved to 19-3 (7-0 CC), solidifying their tie atop the CC standings.
Haverford was led by Taylor Jones, who contributed 10 kills, while Eliana Brown tallied seven, and Fiona Moord added six. Kayla Chu recorded 16 assists, while Brown notched 15 digs. Dasha Igonin contributed a pair of service aces, and the Fords registered four total team blocks, with Jones recording three.
The two teams were locked in a close battle early, but Franklin & Marshall pulled ahead with a key run, turning a 7-6 lead into an 11-6 advantage behind Perez at the service line. Mangiamele contributed a kill during that stretch, while Ceci Connolly added to the scoreboard ahead of a block from Connolly and Avery Grantham. Undaunted, the Fords stayed close to the Diplomats, pulling within two at 16-14 following a kill from Jones. Moord notched another kill to keep Haverford within two at 19-17, but F&M responded with a 5-0 run, reaching set point after a Melissa Benkowitz kill. Haverford answered with a 3-0 spurt to narrow the gap, but Mya Anderson secured the frame for F&M with a kill at 25-20.
The Fords trailed 7-1 to start the second set, with Maile Sugamura delivering back-to-back service aces, prompting a Haverford timeout. The Fords regrouped, prompting a Diplomats timeout after a 5-0 run brought them within two at 18-16. In a game marked by runs, the Diplomats answered with Anderson contributing back-to-back kills and then adding a third to extend the lead to 22-16. Anderson, Connolly, and Carly Campbell contributed kills down the stretch to complete a 25-17 win.
The third frame featured nine ties and multiple lead changes, with Haverford jumping to a 12-6 lead, prompting an early timeout from F&M after a key run with Izabela Potocnjak at the service line. Brown contributed back-to-back kills to secure a six-point advantage. The score remained tight late in the set, with ties at 16-16, 17-17, 19-19, and 20-20. In the final sprint, Mangiamele proved decisive, contributing four consecutive points for her team, countered by two kills from Moord, putting the Diplomats ahead 24-22. Perez delivered the final kill, closing the match at 25-22.
Mangiamele, who finished with a match-high 14 kills on a .722 hitting percentage, was the standout for the visitors. Avery Grantham participated in all four Diplomat blocks, while Liah Perez added 21 assists and four service aces.
Haverford continues its CC schedule with a 7:30 p.m. match at Ursinus on Wednesday. The contest at Ursinus serves as a prelude to Senior Day, scheduled for Saturday, November 2, at 1 p.m. against McDaniel.