Diplomats Ground Elizabethtown in Volleyball, 3-0

by Sports Information
9/4/03

LANCASTER, PA - Outside hitter Maureen Lafferty (Sr., Collegeville, PA/Villa Maria) tallied 15 kills and 16 digs as the Franklin & Marshall College women's volleyball team swept Elizabethtown College 3-0 (30-22, 30-24, 30-25) in the annual "Harrisburg Spike" match.

Outside hitters Rebecca Zeigler (So., Manchester, PA/Northeastern) and middle blocker Elizabeth Earll (Jr., New Freedom, PA/Susquehannock) added nine kills, while libero Meghan Godorov (So., Orefield, PA/Parkland) chipped in 27 digs and setter Jenn Grue (Sr., Canton, PA/Canton) finished with 43 assists and 15 digs in the effort.

Two keys to the match were the play of outside hitter Kayleen Bailey (So., Baltimore, MD/Notre Dame) and middle blocker Sara Collier (So., Manchester, PA/Northeastern).

Tied at 1-1 in the opening of the second game, Bailey recorded consecutive service aces to push F&M out to a 4-1 lead as Elizabethtown failed to cut the lead to less than three points for the remainder of the game to fall 30-24. Overall, she finished with a match high six aces, three off the school record of nine in a three game match established on September 25, 1999 versus Goucher College by Karis Conner.

Defensively, Collier notched three blocks to lead the Diplomats as the victory improves F&M's record all-time versus Elizabethtown to 20-13. Historically, the Diplomats have won nine straight meetings since a loss in 1995.

Named in honor of Harrisburg Pike, the road on which both Elizabethtown and Franklin & Marshall College are located, the "Harrisburg Spike" match is one of two trophy games between the Diplomats and Elizabethtown as the two schools also compete for the Smith-Herr Boot in men's soccer.

Previously, the loser of the "Spike" match was awarded a wood carving of a pike (i.e. fish) created by then Franklin & Marshall College head coach Steve Coulson. However, prior to the 2002 season, the pike was lost at Elizabethtown College and has never been replaced.

Franklin & Marshall (2-2, 0-0 Centennial Conference) will continue the season on September 12-13 at the University of Scranton Tournament.

Franklin & Marshall (2-2, 0-0 CC) 30-30-30
Elizabethtown (0-3, 0-0 MAC) 22-24-25

Kills: Maureen Lafferty 15, Rebecca Zeigler 9, Elizabeth Earll 9
Digs: Meghan Godorov 27, Maureen Lafferty 16, Jenn Grue 15
Assists: Jenn Grue 4
Blocks: Sara Collier 3
Aces: Kayleen Bailey 6