Franklin College coach Dillon Taylor believed that his team was coming into this season with some positive momentum.

Saturday's results certainly appeared to validate that belief, as the Grizzlies got their 2025 campaign started with impressive three-set victories over Miami University Hamilton and Blackburn at the Spurlock Center. Franklin was a 25-10, 25-23, 25-15 winner over the Harriers in the first match of the afternoon and followed by defeating the Beavers 25-18, 25-16, 25-20.

"What a great start to the season for our group," Taylor said. "Really proud of our offensive efforts today, as well as the growth in our culture. Every player that touched the court made a huge impact and helped us on our way to two big wins."

The Grizzlies broke the first set open when a Lauren Kinsey kill followed by five straight points on the serve of Brionna Linkel stretched an 11-7 lead to 17-7. A pair of McKenzie Schroeder kills accounted for the last two points of the set. Miami Hamilton offered far more resistance in the second, whittling its way back from a 16-9 deficit to tie the score twice, the last at 23-23. Franklin was able to finish the job, getting the next two points on a Hope Moring kill and a Trinity Schroeder ace.

In the third set, Franklin pulled ahead for good with a six-point run — one that included three service aces from Jayde Billings — that made it 8-3. Linkel added two aces of her own during a 7-0 burst that extended the lead to 20-8, and another Billings ace ended the match.

Franklin totaled 18 aces in the win, led by five from Trinity Schroeder and four apiece from Billings and Linkel. Offensively, McKenzie Schroeder led the way with 10 kills, while Kaitlyn Lowes had eight and Kaitlyn Lavy seven. Linkel and Billings had 20 and 16 assists, respectively.

Against Blackburn, the Grizzlies trailed 8-4 early in the first set before rallying to tie it at 9-9. Two McKenzie Schroeder kills bookended one from Trinity Schroeder to key a four-point run that gave the host side a little breathing room at 17-12, and the Beavers never got any closer than four the rest of the way before a Lavy kill ended it. The second set saw Franklin storm out to a 17-5 advantage, with two Linkel aces and consecutive Lavy kills highlighting the run, and coasting from there. 

The third set was tied at 11-11 before a Lowes kill put the Grizzlies ahead to stay. Lavy and Moring each put down three kills down the stretch to help seal the deal.

Lavy paced the Grizzlies with 15 kills against the Beavers, followed by McKenzie Schroeder with eight and Lowes with seven. Linkel had 22 assists, and Lavy pulled up 13 digs on the back row.

"Kaitie Lavy and Kaitlyn Lowes played incredible on the outside, and the Schroeder sisters were great in both matches," Taylor said. "Our setters, Brionna Linkel and Jayde Billings, continue to put their attackers in great positions, which makes life easy for them."

The Grizzlies (2-0) will be back on the Spurlock floor on Wednesday, Sept. 3 for a nonconference battle with Eureka.