The Muhlenberg volleyball team finished out two close sets to defeat Swarthmore, 3-1, and clinch a Centennial Conference playoff berth.

With one match remaining in the regular season, the Mules (19-7, 6-3) are in a virtual three-way tie for third place in the CC with McDaniel (7-3) and Swarthmore (6-3). Muhlenberg finishes up at Washington Saturday while Swarthmore hosts Haverford.

Junior Maggie Enestvedt led Muhlenberg with 14 kills, while senior Kelly Tornetta added 10. Sophomores Maya Illovsky (18), Rebecca Shear (13) and Kendall Applegate (10) and senior Shannon Hubert (11) all reached double figures in digs. 

The teams split the first two sets, neither of which were particularly close. The last two sets were a different story.

The third set was tied at 3, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15 and 16. Back-to-back kills by Tornetta gave Muhlenberg the lead for good at 18-16, although the Garnet, who reached the NCAA quarterfinals last year, kept within striking distance. It was 23-22 before the Mules put the set away with a kill by Enestvedt and a Swarthmore attack error.

Neither team led by more than three points in the fourth set until the Garnet went on a 7-0 run to open up a 19-15 lead. Muhlenberg came storming right back, eventually drawing even at 21 when Hubert's hit landed just inside the line. A block by senior Erica Schultz gave the Mules the lead at 22-21.

The teams traded points and were tied at 23 before embarking on the longest rally of the match, which finally ended when a Garnet attacker hit the ball into the net. A Swarthmore attempt went long on the next point, giving the match to the Mules. 

Tornetta's 10 kills gave her 306 for the season, making her only the third player in team history with three 300-kill years.

Muhlenberg needs on more win to reach the 20-win mark for the 12th time in program history and the fifth time in the last six years.