LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Franklin College volleyball team stepped back into conference play on Wednesday (Oct. 17) night, heading south to take on the leaders in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC), the Transylvania Pioneers.

The Grizzlies (9-15, 2-4 HCAC) fell in three sets to the Pioneers (12-9, 6-1 HCAC), the second straight defeat for the Grizzlies. Lexie Gifford finished with a team-high six kills for Franklin, but the Grizzly offense couldn't get going against the Pioneers, finishing with a .016 attacking percentage to a .204 hitting percentage for the host Pioneers.

Game one saw the Pioneers use a pair 6-1 runs in the opening set to take control on their way to a 25-16 win. Franklin jumped out to an early 7-3 lead in game two before Transy flipped momentum with an 11-3 run of their own that paved the way for a 25-17 win and a two-set lead. The Pioneers closed out the win with a win in the third set by a similar 25-17 score.

Abigail Sewell, Jenna Spini and Kyndall Boyll added five kills each for Franklin while Mackenzie Waldran handed out 22 assists while running the offense. Allison Thompson's 10 digs were tops among all Franklin defenders with Timber Falin's four blocks paced the net-front defense.

The Grizzlies return to action on Friday night, taking on another one of the top teams in the HCAC in the Bluffton Beavers to start a two-match homestand. First serve from the Spurlock Center is set for 7:00 p.m.