LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Franklin College volleyball team stepped out of conference play on Tuesday night, traveling south to the Derek Smith Gymnasium for a showdown with the Spalding Golden Eagles.

The Grizzlies (10-7) weren't able to get back in the win column, falling in four sets to Spalding (4-12), 25-19, 25-22, 19-25, 25-15.

For the third consecutive match, senior Amanda Lelivelt led the Franklin attack, putting away eight balls and leading the Grizzlies with five blocks. Freshman Abigail Sewell finished one off the team lead with seven kills while Brooke Harvey and Lexie Gifford had six kills each.

Spalding opened the first set with a 9-3 run, but the Grizzlies would answer with a similar stretch to draw even at 12. But a 6-1 Spalding run later in the set proved to be too much to overcome for the Grizzlies as Spalding jumped out to a one-game lead.

Game two was a back-and-forth contest that saw several ties and lead changes. But a late push from the Golden Eagles led to a 25-22 win and a 2-0 lead. Franklin would answer in game three, propelled by a 10-2 run that turned a 13-10 deficit into a 20-15 lead. Game three was Franklin's most efficient offensively as the team finished the set with a .214 attacking percentage. 

But there was no comeback in the cards as the Golden Eagles jumped out to an early lead and never looked back in the closing set. Spalding opened game four with a 7-0 run that they rode to the win. 

The Grizzlies were limited to a .065 hitting percentage on the night while Spalding swung at a .161 clip. Sewell finished with a team-high .385 attacking percentage for the Grizzlies. 

Libby Stahl led the Grizzlies with 25 digs on the night. Carrigan Peak finished with a double-double, handing out a team-high 15 assists and adding 13 digs of her own. 

The Grizzlies will return to action on their home floor on Wednesday night, when they welcome DePauw University to the Spurlock Center. First serve is set for 7:00 p.m.