LANCASTER, Pa. – The Haverford College volleyball team (19-9) was upended in the Centennial Conference semifinals at the Mayser Center on the campus of Franklin & Marshall, falling to the host Diplomats (22-5) in four sets Friday night. Haverford claimed the opening set 25-17 before the Diplomats rallied to take the next three by scores of 25-18, 25-20 and 25-22.
The Fords, making their first CC semifinals appearance since 2021, delivered a poised and convincing first frame, controlling the net and forcing F&M into 11 attack errors while producing nine kills of their own to jet out to an early lead. Haverford built its separation behind strong serving and timely blocks, registering five blocks in the set and notching three aces to seize momentum early.
Haverford prompted a Diplomats timeout after a 4-0 run to take a 14-11 cushion as a Kayla Chu service ace served as a prelude to the Fiona Moord kill. Haverford's run continued as the Diplomats called for another timeout with the score at 18-11 in favor of the visitors. A solo block from Cella gave the Fords set point before an F&M attack error ended the frame.
Set two shifted sharply as F&M found its rhythm in front of the home crowd, hitting an impressive .516 in the stanza. While the Fords matched the Diplomats point for point in the early goings, a mid-set F&M run created the separation in the 25-18 decision.
The third set featured one of the match's tightest stretches, with the teams trading eight ties and four lead changes. Haverford again applied pressure at the service line and at the net, but F&M's 17 kills in the frame proved decisive in the late points. Haverford took a 16-13 lead that was erased by a 4-0 Diplomats run. A kill from Eliana Brown tied the score at 17-17, but F&M rattled off three straight. A block from Elizabeth Cella and Gia Frank got the Fords back within just one before a 4-0 spurt from the hosts to take a 25-20 decision.
Haverford regrouped in the fourth and delivered another resilient push, closing a late deficit to pull within two at 24-22. The Diplomats went ahead 11-5 and had thoughts on cruising to the victory before the Fords found production offensively, unleashing a 4-0 stretch to claw back within three at 14-11. F&M, however, converted a 5-0 run to take back control, suddenly up 19-11. A 6-2 Haverford stretch put the Fords within four at 21-17, and key kills from Brown and Cella wrapped around an F&M error put the Fords within tjust wo. At set point, F&M was able to find the floor with a kill from Ceci Connolly to end the contest and send the Diplomats to Sunday's Centennial final.
Haverford was led by Cella's 13 kills, six digs and two blocks, while Brown added 11 kills, 11 digs and three blocks. Frank finished with seven kills and three blocks, and Moord posted five kills with a team-high five blocks. Cameryn DeBlecourt and Kayla Chu combined for 31 assists, with Kira Chaney anchoring the back row with 17 digs and two aces.
Franklin & Marshall countered with a powerful attack led by Melissa Benkowitz's match-high 20 kills and eight digs, supported by 13 kills from Coco Shultz and 12 from Avery Grantham. Setter Liah Perez directed the Diplomat offense with 28 assists in a standout effort, while Abby Silinski added 18 digs and three aces in a solid two-way performance for the hosts.
The 2025 NCAA DIII Women's Volleyball Championship selection show is on Monday, November 17, at 1 p.m. ET on NCAA.com. The Fords, who entered the day at No. 39 in the latest NPI rankings release, will look to see if they have done enough to earn one of the 21 at-large bids to the NCAA tournament.
