Cincinnati, Ohio - The Franklin College volleyball team secured its first Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) tournament appearsnce since 2006 despite losing 3-1 at Mount St. Joseph University on Saturday.

The Grizzlies received the postseason berth when Anderson University lost to Hanover College.

Franklin also lost a five-set match to Adrian College on Saturday in Cincinnati.

Junior Kourtney Settle (Vallonia, Ind./Brownstown Central) led the team's hitting attack against MSJ with nine kills. Senior Jordan Finke (Indianapolis, Ind./Lutheran) added eight kills, while junior Emily Young (Avon, Ind./Avon) recorded six kills.

Sophomore Ashley Bazier (Terre Haute, Ind./Terre Haute South) provided 26 assists.

Junior Mackenzie Wieneke (Seymour, Ind./Seymour) led the defensive effort with 14 digs. Classmate Hope Steel (New Palestine, Ind./Lutheran) chipped in 13 digs.

Against Adrian, Young led the team with 15 kills, while freshman Brooke Harvey (Clinton, Ind./South Vermillion) and Finke each added 10 kills.

Bazier recorded 41 assists and nine digs defensively.

Wieneke had a team-high 22 digs and Steel added 12 digs.

Franklin (15-11, 5-3 HCAC) returns to action on Wednesday, September 29 at 7 p.m. when it travels to Spalding University. The Grizzlies host Anderson University and Trine University on Senior Day on Saturday, November 1, starting at 11 a.m. from the Spurlock Center.