FRANKLIN, Ind. — Wabash College completed a season sweep of Franklin College with a decisive 3-0 victory Friday night at the Spurlock Center, earning its second straight-set win over the Grizzlies this season after a 3-0 triumph at home on Feb. 10.
The Little Giants (6-9) controlled the match from start to finish, winning by scores of 25-14, 25-22, 25-14 behind an efficient offensive performance and balanced contributions across the lineup. Wabash hit .442 as a team with 43 kills against just nine errors on 77 attempts, while holding Franklin to a .159 hitting percentage.
Junior outside hitter Bawibawi Thang led the attack with 18 kills on 26 swings for a .500 hitting percentage, adding 10 digs. Freshman middle blocker Jaden Greenwell continued his strong play with 10 kills on 11 attempts for a match-best .909 hitting percentage, committing no errors.
Wabash setter Matthew Stitle directed the offense with 36 assists and helped the Little Giants post a .506 team assist percentage. He also contributed defensively with five digs and two block assists.
Additional offensive support came from Shad Wilson, who recorded six kills with a .333 hitting percentage, and Ben Donaldson, who added five kills while hitting .500. Patrick Volk contributed three kills and four block assists, while Andrew Hostetler chipped in a kill on his lone attempt.
Defensively, libero Piotr Wolan anchored the back row with 10 digs and a perfect reception percentage, while the Little Giants finished with 46 team digs and six total blocks.
Wabash seized control early in the opening set, using a series of Franklin attack errors and timely kills from Thang and Greenwell to build a double-digit lead. The Little Giants hit .346 in the frame and sided out at an 86 percent clip to claim the 25-14 win.
The second set proved more competitive, featuring eight tie scores. Franklin battled to a 22-22 deadlock before Wabash closed the set on a 3-0 run, highlighted by a service ace from Patrick Volk and a key block from Greenwell and Volk.
Wabash delivered its most dominant performance in the third set, hitting .708 with 18 kills and just one error. Thang and Greenwell combined for 13 kills in the final frame as the Little Giants pulled away early and never allowed Franklin to mount a sustained rally.
Franklin (5-18) was led by Jonathan McCoy with nine kills and Kevin Braxton with eight, but the Grizzlies struggled offensively against Wabash's defense and efficient serving.
In the first meeting between the teams on Feb. 10 at Chadwick Court, Wabash also earned a 3-0 sweep, hitting efficiently while limiting Franklin's offensive opportunities to secure the season series.
With Friday's victory, the Little Giants completed the two-match sweep over the Grizzlies and continued to build momentum heading back into Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League play.
Wabash returns to conference action Saturday with a 3 p.m. match at Spalding University in the first meeting between the two programs.
