The Lancaster Bible College Women's Volleyball team began their 2025 campaign across town against Franklin & Marshall, dropping the match 3-1 after several close sets. The Chargers open the year 0-1 while the Diplomats kick off their season with a win at 1-0.
 
How it Happened:
The Chargers took a 3-2 lead early as freshman Ashby Brummer was the first to land a point with a solo block, then Brummer also had the Chargers' first kill of the year to tie it at 5-5. Sophomore Madison Reap had a service ace later to bring LBC within one, but the Diplomats built their advantage up to five at 16-11. From there the Chargers clawed back, going on a four-point run sparked by a kill from senior Riley Dodrer to tie the set at 18-all. Junior Eden Belford had a pair of kills late in the set to keep it tied, but Franklin & Marshall pulled away at the end to take the set 25-23.
 
The Diplomats controlled set two after the score was tied at seven, pulling ahead 18-9 despite kills from juniors Jessica Fletcher and Lea Sareyka. Franklin & Marshall cruised in the set as they finished it out 25-13 to take a 2-0 match lead over LBC. Set three was where the Chargers found their rhythm as they led 4-2 early off kills from Sareyka and junior Eden Belford. The set remained close throughout as the teams traded kills and errors, with Reap and Sareyka leading the charge in that regard. The Diplomats were on the verge of a sweep as they went up 24-19 on match point, but the Chargers weren't done as they rattled off six straight points, including an ace from Dodrer to win the set 26-24 and force another one.
 
Franklin & Marshall controlled the fourth set from the beginning as they built a four-point cushion early. Sareyka had an ace and Belford and Brummer each had kills, but the Diplomats powered past the Chargers 25-12 to close out the opening match 3-1 over LBC.
 
By the Numbers:
- The Diplomats dominated the kills battle 52-33 and the aces battle 10-5, while the Chargers led in blocks 5-4
- Lea Sareyka and Eden Belford led the team with eight and seven kills respectively for the Chargers
- Sophomore Kaitlyn Weitzel debuted for the Chargers with a team-high 14 assists
- Senior Madison Timberlake had a career-high 22 digs to open the season while Madison Reap had 19 digs
- The Diplomats were led by Ceci Connolly with a match-high 17 kills
 
Information to Know:
The Chargers remain winless against the Diplomats all-time in 12 total matches and lost their first season opener since 2022.
 
Up Next:
The Chargers have two matches tomorrow on Saturday, August 30 as they head back to Franklin & Marshall and face Susquehanna at 12:00 p.m. and Randolph-Macon at 2:30 p.m.