Franklin, Ind. - The Franklin College volleyball team earned its 10th victory of the season and opened Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) play with a 3-2 (25-16, 19-25, 25-23, 22-25, 15-10) home victory over Earlham College on Wednesday from the Spurlock Center.

Franklin (10-4, 1-0 HCAC) rebounded from a slow start in the opening set to grab the early advantage. The Grizzlies managed a .285 hitting percentage for the set, led by four kills from freshman Amanda Lelivelt (Chippewa Falls, Wis./Riverside Brookfield). Junior Emily Young (Avon, Ind./Avon) added three kills in the first set.

Earlham (3-13, 0-1 HCAC) squared the match in the second set behind 12 kills compared to just two errors in the frame. The Quakers appeared to retain the momentum and take a 2-1 set lead by jumping out to a 13-4 advantage in the third set. The visitors led 18-11 before a furious rally by the Grizzlies took the third set 25-23.

Earlham forced a deciding fifth set with a late push to take the fourth set 25-22.

In the fifth set, Franklin was efficient with eight kills compared to two errors and had a .400 team hitting percentage. Junior Kourtney Settle (Vallonia, Ind./Brownstown Central) led the effort in the set with four kills. Freshman Brooke Harvey (Clinton, Ind./South Vermillion) added one kill to make it 13-10. Senior Jordan Finke (Indianapolis, Ind./Lutheran) closed the match with two kills in the fifth set.

Overall, Young led the offensive attack with 12 kills. Settle chipped in nine kills. Lelivelt recorded eight kills and Finke added six kills. Sophomore Ashley Bazier (Terre Haute, Ind./Terre Haute South) tallied 32 assists and had 13 digs.

Defensively, freshman Sarah Labra (Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis) had a team-high 17 digs. Finke recorded six blocks, while Settle added five solo blocks and assisted on one block in the match.

Franklin returns to action on Saturday, September 27 at 1 p.m. when it travels to Manchester University for a triangular match. The Grizzlies face the hosts Spartans in a HCAC match before battling St. Mary's College at 3 p.m.