NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Franklin & Marshall volleyball team came up short in a thrilling 3-2 match to Randolph-Macon in the regional round of the NCAA Division III tournament Friday afternoon.
The Diplomats (22-7) won the first set 25-23, before dropping the next two 21-25, 17-25. F&M came back strong in the fourth to tie the match. The Diplomats held a 21-16 advantage late in the fourth before Randolph-Macon (26-7) fought back to tie the game at 23 apiece. A service error by the Yellow Jackets made it 24-23 and a Sydney Seydel (pictured) spike gave F&M a 25-23 game victory.
The deciding game started out with both team battling back and forth before RMC pulled away to take a 9-5 edge. The Diplomats responded with a 4-1 run to come within a point at 9-10. F&M got within a point at 13-14 on a kill by Nicole Morano, before the Yellow Jackets closed out the set 15-13 to take the match.
Candice Tussing paced the Diplomats with 17 kills and 12 digs on the defensive end. Katy May turned in a solid 20 digs, while Lis Power finished with 14.
Pam Horner led the way on the offensive side with 49 assists. Horner also finished with 10 digs. Jessica Poucel finished the game with nine kills and two service aces.
The Diplomats end the season with back-to-back 20 or more wins.
Randolph-Macon def. Franklin & Marshall 23-25,25-21,25-17,23-25,15-13
Franklin & Marshall (22-7) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Candice Tussing 17-0-2; Sydney Seydel 12-0-5; Kerry Rom 9-1-2; Jessica Poucel 9-2-0; Nicole Morano 9-0-1; Pam Horner 3-1-0; Lis Power 0-1-0; Katy May 0-1-0; Totals 59-6-6.0. (Assists) - Pam Horner 49. (Dig leaders) - Katy May 20; Lis Power 14; Candice Tussing 12; Stephanie Armstrong 11; Pam Horner 10; Kerry Rom 9
Randolph-Macon (26-7) (Kills-aces-blocks) -
Jessica Sears 15-2-4; Mallory Carter 12-9-0; Raena Winton 11-0-5;
Hillary Jessee 7-0-4; Victoria Puryear 5-0-2; Mallory James 2-0-6;
Courtney Anderson 1-1-0; Casey West 1-0-2; Sam Block 0-1-0; Totals
54-13-11.5. (Assists) -
Courtney Anderson 31; Sam Block 14. (Dig leaders) - Marli
Dabareiner 18; Jessica Sears 14; Sam Block 10; Courtney Anderson
10; Mallory Carter 9