Nothing lasts forever, not even a feel-good win streak.
After 15 consecutive victories, Franklin women's volleyball returned to mere mortal status on Saturday afternoon when it suffered a 25-22, 25-15, 25-19 loss at Hanover in its first HCAC match of the season.
The Grizzlies (15-2, 0-1) stayed right with the Panthers for most of the opening set, tying the score at 18-18 on a
Leah Middleton kill and going up by one on a Hanover error on the next point. The home team scored six of the next seven points, however, taking control of the set.
Hanover reeled off nine points in a row to take a 16-5 lead in the second set, and the Grizzlies were unable to get any closer than seven. In the third, Franklin took an early 4-2 lead after kills from Middleton and
Bayleigh Moore, but the Panthers answered with six straight points to go on top for good. The Grizzlies got back within a point on three occasions, the last when a
Kaitlyn Lowes kill cut it to 19-18, but Hanover scored six of the next seven points to end it.
Franklin came into the match ranked among the nation's top five in hitting percentage at .279 but hit just .148 on Saturday while also allowing 10 service aces.
Middleton paced a balanced attack with eight kills, followed by Lowes and
Lauren Kinsey with seven apiece and Moore and
Avery Smith with six each.
Brionna Linkel had 16 assists and
Addie Smith 13. Defensively, Lowes and
Mireily Colomba each had four blocks.
Avery Smith led the way with 11 digs, while
Kim Busateri had 10 and
Addie Smith added nine.
The Grizzlies will try to get back in the win column on Tuesday when they travel to face nonconference foe DePauw.
