WESTMINSTER, Md. - Late rallies in the second and third sets fell short as the McDaniel College volleyball team dropped its Centennial Conference opener to Franklin & Marshall on Wednesday night, 3-0.

The Green Terror (8-8, 0-1 CC) opened the first set with an early 8-6 lead following a service ace from sophomore Kaylee Comstock. The Diplomats responded with six of the next seven points to pull ahead, then scored five straight to increase the lead to 18-11. The visitors closed the opening set on a 7-1 run to take the first set, 25-15.

Franklin & Marshall (14-3, 2-0 CC) began the second set on a 5-0 run and eventually grew the lead to 17-10 before McDaniel fought back with a 5-1 run, capped off by an ace from senior Samantha Fadel. A kill from sophomore Stephanie Buttons cut the deficit to four, but the Diplomats scored the final point to fend off the comeback, 25-20.

The Green Terror jumped out to a 7-3 lead to start set three, highlighted by kills from Buttons and first-year Kaitlyn Saidat and back-to-back aces from Fadel. F&M then surged back ahead, breaking an 11-11 tie with an 8-0 run to take control of the set. McDaniel would cut the deficit to 20-15 late with another rally, but the visitors closed out the set and won 25-17 to win the set in a sweep.

First-year Mariya Carson led the Green Terror with eight kills on 22 attempts. Buttons, Saidat, and junior Abigayle Bowley each finished second on the team with four kills apiece. Fadel totaled team-highs with three aces and nine digs while Comstock led the way with 11 assists.

The Green Terror hit the road to face conference rival Haverford on Saturday at 1 p.m.