The Lancaster Bible College Women's Volleyball team dropped a 3-0 contest to a Franklin & Marshall team that is receiving votes in the NCAA Division III national poll on Tuesday night. The Chargers fall to 12-4 overall while the Diplomats improve to 11-2 overall.
 
How it Happened:
The teams went back and forth to begin, with sophomore Jessica Fletcher and freshman Madison Reap landing kills. Reap and senior Sheyenne King combined for a block to keep the score within two, but the Diplomats threw in some aces and blocks to steady their lead. F&M would go on to finish off set one 25-17.
 
The Diplomats took control early in set two with a six-point run to go up 10-5. Reap and senior Leah Helman landed service aces to fight back and kills from junior Riley Dodrer and sophomore Eden Belford kept the Chargers in it. However, it was another big run from Franklin & Marshall that helped seal the deal despite kills from Belford and Fletcher, wrapping up set two 25-19.
 
The Chargers started set three strong with kills from Reap and sophomore Lea Sareyka and a block from Dodrer and Belford. LBC kept it close at 10-9, then again at 14-13 with a kill from Belford. It was the Diplomats, though, that opened up a big run to end the set 25-17 and close out the sweep of the Chargers.
 
By the Numbers:
- The Diplomats dominated in kills 48-29 and blocks 7-3, while the teams were tied on the night with six service aces each
- Eden Belford led the Chargers with eight kills and no errors
- Sophomore Madeline Reed had 13 assists and Leah Helman finished with 15 digs
- Sheyenne King had two blocks
- The Diplomats were led by Melissa Benkowitz, posting a double-double with 10 kills and 13 digs
 
Information to Know:
The Chargers remain winless against Franklin & Marshall in 12 matchups, losing their first three-set match of the season. Sophomore Jessica Fletcher reached 300 career kills with seven tonight, the most among active players for the Chargers. Senior libero Leah Helman becomes the fourth player in program history to surpass 1,600 career digs, sitting at 1,609 after tonight's game and 174 back of the all-time LBC record (Myranda Kemrer '17). Senior Sheyenne King jumped into 16^th all-time in block assists with 54 for her career, passing both Sara Palmeter ('02) and Faith Hammond ('24).
 
Up Next:
The Chargers stay in Lancaster to take on Alvernia for the second time this season on Friday, September 27 at 7:00 p.m. as LBC celebrates Homecoming Weekend.