FRANKLIN, Ind. – The Manchester University volleyball team traveled to Franklin College on Friday September 27 for a pair of matches.  Manchester took on Franklin to begin its HCAC slate.  The Spartans followed their match against the Grizzlies with a non-conference bout against Capital University.

Franklin 3, Manchester 2 – Box Score

The Manchester University volleyball team opened Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play on Friday night at Franklin College.  The Spartans and Grizzlies went toe-to-toe in an intense five-set thriller.  Host Franklin narrowly clipped the visiting Spartans 3-2.

Manchester started off fast against Franklin, taking the first and second sets by scores of 25-18 and 28-26.  MU combined for 31 kills in the first two sets.

Franklin battled back, taking the next two sets by scores of 25-21 and 25-20.  In the fifth and final set, Manchester held a 9-3 lead before Franklin chipped away at the Spartan advantage.  FC narrowly won the final set 15-13.

Lauren Gandhi (Westfield, Ind./Guerin Catholic) tallied 32 assists and 15 digs against Franklin. Alexandria Collins (Lowell, Ind./Lowell) added 19 helpers and 10 digs.  Anna Marie Lawrie (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) collected 21 digs. 

Offensively, MU had four players reach double figures in kills. Halle Planck and Helaina Walters (Marion, Ind./Eastbrook) both finished with 16 kills.  Rachel Ressler (Tipton, Ind./Tipton) and Kara Heckmuller ended with 12 and 11 kills, respectively.

Manchester 3, Capital 1– Box Score

The Spartans rebounded in their second match of the evening, gutting out a victory over the Capital University Crusaders in four sets.  MU won their sixth match of the season following set scores of 22-25, 25-22, 26-24, and 28-26.

After dropping the opening set to the Crusaders, Manchester took sets two, three, and four.  The Spartans rallied from a pair of seven-point deficits in the second and fourth sets. 

Alexandria Collins finished with 22 assists while Lauren Gandhi tallied 21 assists.  Anna Marie Lawrie posted a game-high 24 digs.  Mackenzie Rooks (Columbus, Ind./Columbus) chipped in 11 digs.

Halle Planck (Gas City, Ind./Mississinewa) led Manchester with 13 kills.  Kara Heckmuller (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) finished with 10 kills and four block assists.  As a team, the Spartans finished with 16 block assists and two solo blocks.

Manchester (6-8) will travel to nearby Huntington on Friday October 4 for a 4 p.m. matchup with the Foresters.