RICHMOND, Ind. – Albion College squandered a two-set lead and it could not overcome a slow start in non-league volleyball losses to Franklin College and Earlham College.

Albion continued its trend of utilizing all of its offensive options. Stephanie Thurner cracked 23 kills and added seven blocks. Taylor Rosenthal chipped in with 19 kills and six blocks, Lauren Outwater terminated 21 points, Halle Thom produced 19 kills and Jessica Konieczny knocked down 15 kills and 11 blocks.

Libero Monica Shuk added 39 digs and served up five aces, and setter Ami Milligan dished out 81 assists with 32 digs.

First Match: Franklin

Albion hit .293 in taking the first set, 25-22, and it took the second set by the same score.

Albion's hitting efficiency slowed to .026 in losing the third set, 25-14. Albion hitting improved to .263 in the fourth, but it still came up short, 25-17. A service error opened the door for Franklin's five-point run and the Grizzles won the decisive set, 15-11.

Second Match: Earlham

Earlham eked the first two sets, 27-25 and 26-24.

Albion hit .368 in rolling to the third set, 25-9. Albion scored six in a row with Konieczny terminating a point and joining Thurner on a block. Thom produced two kills and Angela Adams served an ace as Albion reeled off another six-point run.

Albion had three opportunities to win the fourth set, but Earlham finished the match by a 30-28 score.

Albion has three home matches next week. The Britons host Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association rival Kalamazoo College and non-league foe Grace Bible College Tuesday and begin the second half of the league's double round robin schedule against Olivet College Saturday.