Even the best feel-good stories have to end sometime.

One year after enduring a winless season in conference play, the Grizzlies battled defending league champion Transylvania in an HCAC tournament quarterfinal before ending a transformational season on the losing end of a 25-19, 25-16, 30-28 score.

Franklin finishes the year at 15-15, matching its highest win total over the last decade.

"We asked them yesterday to leave everything on the court, and my gosh they did," Griz coach Dillon Taylor said. "They willed themselves into the match in set three and gave everything they had."

The Grizzlies took an early 8-3 lead in the first set following a Campbell Clark service ace and a Hope Moring kill, and they were still up 12-8 after a McKenzie Schroeder kill before Transy scored nine of the next 10 points to take control. Kills by freshmen Lauren Kinsey and Leah Middleton, as well as another Clark ace, drew Franklin even again at 18-18, but the Pioneers answered with a 6-0 run to all but put the set away.

Transylvania was never seriously threatened in set two after scoring the first seven points, though the Grizzlies did get as close as 12-9 — but the third was another story entirely.

Down 12-10, Franklin ran off six straight points, a run capped by consecutive aces by Charlotte Goto and a kill from fellow senior Kaitlyn Lavy, to take a 16-12 lead. Another Lavy kill made it 19-15 before the Pioneers scored the next four to tie it up.

It was back and forth the rest of the way. The Grizzlies had a set point at 24-23 after a Hannah Phegley ace, and they then fought off four match points — with kills from Lavy and Moring tying it up at 27-27 and 28-28 — before Transy registered a pair of kills to end it.

The marathon last set was a far cry from how Franklin finished its regular-season finale on the same court.

"The major difference in this match was the fact that we utilized our middles more, and our blocking improved," Taylor said. "We actually outblocked them tonight, which was huge."

Lavy had eight kills and Moring seven to lead the Griz attack, with Moring — who claimed first team All-HCAC honors earlier in the day — adding 10 assists and matching Clark with nine digs. Brionna Linkel had 17 assists.

With the loss, the Grizzlies bid farewell to a nine-player senior class that helped lay a foundation for future success.

"They have made a lasting impact on the future," Taylor said. "We are forever grateful for the trust they put in the process, and for being great people and great athletes."