FRANKLIN – The Franklin Volleyball team got back in the win column on Saturday (Oct. 28) afternoon, downing the Defiance Yellow Jackets in a five-set thriller in the Spurlock Center.
 
Junior Miranda Wilson powered the Franklin (8-16, 2-5 HCAC) attack with 17 kills, one of four players to finish the afternoon with double-digit put-aways. Franklin swung it at a .246 clip for the afternoon in besting the Yellow Jackets (4-20, 0-7 HCAC) 25-10, 24-26, 26-24, 23-25, 15-13.
 
Set One
Franklin dominated the opening set from the jump, rattling off seven straight points to start the set. The Griz defense kept the Jackets to a -.261 hitting percentage in the opening game and Wilson led all players with five kills in the opening set win.
 
Set Two
The second set featured seven ties and three lead changes, but the Yellow Jackets came away with a 36-24 win, limiting mistakes on the attack with just four attacking errors to nine in the game for Franklin.
 
Set Three
Another back-and-forth set saw six ties and a pair of lead changes, but the game's deciding run came with Franklin facing a 14-8 deficit. Franklin stormed all the way back to take the lead at 22-21 and after the Jackets fought off set point, Franklin got back-to-back kills from Hope Moring to close out the 26-24 win and take a one-set lead.
 
Set Four
Another roller coaster set that saw nine ties and seven lead changes came down to the bitter end once again. Defiance used a 5-1 run to flip momentum late and force set point, and the Jackets closed out the 25-23 win to send the match to a deciding set.
 
Set Five
The Grizzlies fell into a 4-1 hole to start the final set and Defiance held a 10-7 lead before a 6-1 Franklin run put the hosts in the driver's seat. The Jackets tied things up at 13 but Franklin forced back-to-back Defiance errors to close out the game five win.
 
Inside the Box Score
-Wilson finished with a team-high .385 hitting percentage and added four aces to tie with Kamzi Gross for the team lead.
-Moring and Kaitlyn Lavy both added 12 kills with Lavy hitting .346 and Moring swinging at .321 for the match.
-Brionna Linkel set a career-high with 35 assists with Sofia Helton serving up 23 helpers
-Campbell Clark led the back line with 20 digs and was joined in double figures by Hannah Phegley (15) and Gross (12).
-Alyssa Zemlyak racked up a team-high five blocks.
-Franklin finished the game hitting .246 while holding Defiance to .118 on the attack.
 
Up Next
The Grizzlies head to Hanover on Tuesday (Oct. 31) for a meeting with the Panthers. First serve is set for 7:00 p.m.