NEW HAVEN, Conn. (September 18, 2021) – The Franklin Pierce University volleyball team improved to 6-4 on the season after sweeping their doubleheader with Post University and Felician University, hosted by Southern Connecticut State University.

The Ravens won the first match over Post by a score of 3-2 (14-25, 22-25, 25-20, 25-18, 17-15) to begin the day. In the second match, the Ravens dominated Felician and swept them by a score of 3-0 (25-21, 26-24, 25-23).

Morgan Schmutzler (Lockport, Ill.) had a career day, as the sophomore recorded a career-high 33 digs against Post, while adding 19 more versus Felician.

Match 1: Franklin Pierce 3, Post 2 (14-25, 22-25, 25-20, 25-18, 17-15).

In the first set, Franklin Pierce and Post kept things close at 3-3. Next, the Eagles went on a bit of run and never looked back, as won the first set 25-14. Post had f14 kills to the Ravens eight kills in the first set.

In the second set, the Crimson and Grey and Post kept it close throughout, and it was tied at 20-20. Post took control and collected three straight points, allowing the Eagles to take a lead they would hang on to, going on to win the set, 25-22.

Franklin Pierce controlled the tempo in the third set, finishing with 12 kills. The Crimson and Grey pulled off the win 25-20 to play the foruth set.

In the fourth set, it was neck and neck, as Franklin Pierce and Post both went on mini runs to try to take the lead. FPU scored four straight points to make it 23-15, and Post could not come back, as the Ravens took the set 25-18 to force the fifth and final set of the match.

The Ravens jumped ahead early on, starting 3-0 in the fifth set. Throughout the set, Franklin Pierce and Post would knot the score up several times, eventually coming to a draw at 15-15. The Crimson and Grey registered two more points, including the match point to win17-15.

The Ravens had 62 kills, with junior Ingrid Lindstrom (Dudley, Mass.) leading the way with 16. Schmutzler amassed an impressive match-high and career-best 33 digs. Senior Kennedy Garnhart (Colorado Springs, Colo.) dished out 33 assists and had a match-high three aces.

Match 2: Franklin Pierce 3, Felician 0 (25-21, 26-24, 25-23).

The Ravens controlled tthe match from start to finish as they ran over Felician, 3-0, to get the sweep in to finish out the doubleheader. The Crimson and Grey totaled 40 kills to Felician's 30 kills.

Franklin Pierce applied the pressure right away in the first set and took an 11-4 lead. The Ravens pulled ahead 22-10, before Felician went on an 11-1 run to make it 23-21 set. Cierra Dolan (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) and Tessa Brandt (Foster, R.I.) each recorded a kill for the Ravens to earn the last two points, winning the set, 25-21.

The Crimson and Grey and Felician went back and forth to start the second set, tying it up at 17 apiece. The two squads kept the match close, with the Ravens taking a slight 24-22 lead after going on a 7-6 run over Felician. Felician tied the set up one more time at 24-24, but a pair of kills from Brandt and Mariah Robles (West Covina, Calif.) sealed the deal to win, 26-24.

The final set saw Franklin Pierce and Felician battle, as they kept the score close throughout. With a score of 23-23, an attack error on Hannah Chiswick of Felician allowed the Ravens to take a 24-23 lead, before a kill from Robles for the match point secured the victory for FPU.

Schmutzler totaled a match-high 19 digs, as Robles and Brandt both finished with ten kills each. Garnhart tallied 14 assists and three aces. Lindstrom finished with a team-best four blocks.

Franklin Pierce will host Northeast-10 rival Saint Michael's on Tuesday, September 21, at the Fieldhouse at 7 p.m.