Riley O'Dowd, Kody Dillon, and Hannah Lyons each had 14, 12, and 12 kills respectively while Kasey Bost added 21 digs but the Susquehanna University volleyball team fell in five sets (25-16, 27-25, 21-25, 23-25, 17-15) to Franklin & Marshall at O.W. Houts Gymnasium in Selinsgrove.

The River Hawks (18-12), fell behind early to the Diplomats (20-6), trailing by 13 points in the first set. After the team used a timeout to regroup, Sydney Portale sparked the River Hawks offensive attack, leading the team as Susquehanna scored eight of the next nine points, causing the Franklin & Marshall to call a timeout of its own. Ultimately their efforts came up short, and the team fell 25-16.

In the second set, solid defensive play by both teams was the prominent theme of the set.  The set went back and forth, with the largest advantage favoring Susquehanna as the River Hawks extended the lead to as many as six points. However, a late comeback by the Diplomats led them to a 27-25 win.

In the third set, despite falling behind early, the River Hawks fought back and were able to get take the lead after solid defensive plays by Lizzie Herestofa and Bost. Dillon added two kills midway through the set giving the River Hawks their first lead of the set at 11-10. The team did not give up the lead for the rest of the set as they won, 25-21.

The fourth set saw eleven lead changes and Susquehanna rallied late with the back-to-back kills by O'Dowd, giving the River Hawks a 24-23 lead. Lyons finished the set with a kill and the team brought the match to a fifth set.

Susquehanna battled in the fifth set, coming back from an early deficit to take the lead at 15-14. The Diplomats were able to take three straight points to take the deciding set 17-15.

Lindsey Pugh had 36 assists to lead the team. Herestofa had 20 digs while Pugh added 13 and Caroline Beohm and Megan Nelson chipped in with 11.

The River Hawks continue play Saturday as they take on Wesleyan College at 1 p.m. and Swarthmore College at 5 p.m. at Orlando W. Houts Gymnasium.