The Muhlenberg volleyball gave Centennial Conference unbeaten Franklin & Marshall all it could handle in the final two sets of a three-set match.
After the Diplomats (12-6, 5-0) handily won the first set, 25-12, they had to eke out the next two, 28-26 and 27-25.
The Mules (10-11, 2-3) had two set points in the second set, at 24-23 after an ace by freshman
Lizzie Steinkamp and at 26-25 after an ace by sophomore
Andrea Romero-Agosto, saving a set point on a kill by senior
Kelliann Keogh in between. But F&M - fresh off a five-set win against nationally ranked, nine-time defending CC champion Johns Hopkins - scored the next three points to escape with the win.
The Diplomats scored the first three points of the third set, but Muhlenberg cut off the momentum and tied the score at 5-5. The Mules led by as many as four points, 23-19, before F&M rallied to tie and eventually finish off the match by scoring the last two points.
Romero-Agosto led the attack with 10 kills in only 17 attempts, while Steinkamp finished with 7. Senior
Jenny Ryan contributed 10 assists, moving past 1800 for her career. Junior
Maddy Budris recorded 11 assists and 8 digs.
