WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Franciscan volleyball team dropped a three-set match to Washington & Jefferson by set scores of 25-16, 25-15, 25-11, Monday evening.

"We played really well," remarked head coach Kelly Herrmann. "Our passing was very good and we now just have to do the little things well. We need to put it all together."

The opening 21 points of the first set were played very tightly as Franciscan trailed by just one point, 11-10, after a string of good serves from senior captain Rachel Potopa. The Presidents' got the serve back after a kill from Lexi Hilzendeger and went on a 5-1 run to take a 16-11 lead. Franciscan cut it back to three points but W&J took control of the set and took a 10-point lead at 23-13 before closing it out, 25-16.

The second set began much like the first with the first few points going back and forth, but W&J took control of the set with an 8-3 run to take a 21-12 lead. The Presidents' closed out the set with the final three points to take a 2-0 lead in the match, 25-15.

Sophomore Becca Haven tied the third set 3-3 early on, but the Presidents' offense had their best hitting percentage of the night in the third and finished the match with a 25-11 win in the third.

"We could have played a lot better volleyball tonight," continued coach Herrmann. "That's not to say the girls didn't play hard – they worked hard for the entire match. We are missing Maddie Raffa and the spark she is on offense for us; once she is back, and we work on the little things, we will be a very good team."

Franciscan returns to the court on Wednesday when the Lady Barons travel to Capital for a 7pm match to wrap up their six-game road trip to open the season.