In a thrilling Centennial Conference-opening match, the Muhlenberg volleyball team fell at home to Franklin & Marshall in five sets.
The Diplomats (12-2, 1-0), who ended the Mules’ season in the first round of last year’s CC playoffs, received 16 votes in this week’s Division III poll. Muhlenberg (5-7, 0-1) hadn’t won more than one set against F&M since 2017.
Muhlenberg trailed 18-15 in the first set before reeling off seven straight points behind the serving of sophomore Chloe Gaglione, who landed back-to-back aces in the middle of the run. The Diplomats called timeout and scored a point to break the streak and close to within 22-19, but the Mules finished off the set with a kill by senior Rachel Jacobs and consecutive aces by freshman Emma Laskaj.
Muhlenberg had two set points in the second set, serving at 24-22, before F&M came back to even the match with a 27-25 win.
The Mules jumped out to a 10-3 advantage in the third set and held off a Diplomat run to win 25-20 and take a 2-1 lead. Muhlenberg cut a 17-8 deficit to 17-13 in the fourth set, but the Diplomats stemmed the tide to win, 25-17, and force a fifth set.
A kill by senior Esmae Oehler gave Muhlenberg an 8-7 lead at the change in the decisive fifth set. It was 9-9 before F&M scored two straight points, and the Mules could not draw even again, falling 15-11.
Oehler led four players in double figures with 12 kills, including the 750th of her career. Jacobs (11 kills) also reached a career milestone, surpassing 500 kills.
Junior Christina Marcin also knocked down 11 kills, while freshman Olivia Bruno (pictured above) recorded a career-high 10 in only 21…
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