SWARTHMORE, Pa.–A complete performance propelled the Swarthmore College volleyball team (19-6, 7-2 CC) to an impressive 25-17, 25-21, 25-21 victory over the visiting Muhlenberg Mules (23-5, 7-2 CC) on Wednesday, Oct. 25.

With the win, Swarthmore clinched its eighth appearance in the Centennial Conference playoffs in the last nine years. Last season, Swarthmore achieved the feat in a similar fashion, earning a berth by sweeping Muhlenberg. The Garnet also defended home court and finished the regular season with an unblemished 12-0 mark at Tarble Pavilion with only three sets conceded in those matches.

Muhlenberg entered the match ranked fifth in the Mid-Atlantic region in the most recent set of NCAA rankings while Swarthmore was slotted ninth.
 
The hosts, however, set the tone early and led wire-to-wire in the first two frames. In the opening set, the Garnet hit .350 overall, paced by Sarah Wallace's six kills and no errors in 10 attempts. Olivia Leventhal and Mehra den Braven contributed four kills apiece as the Garnet defense limited Muhlenberg to a .163 mark on the other end. Swarthmore never allowed the Mules to string more than two points together in the first set and closed on an emphatic kill by Leventhal.

Eight of the first 10 points in the second set went the way of the Garnet, which led to a Muhlenberg timeout. Later in the set, the Mules used a 4-0 run to come within two points at 13-15 and remained within striking distance. At 21-22 and possessing service, Muhlenberg looked to go on a run before three straight from Swarthmore put the hosts on the edge of victory.

The Mules had their best set in the third as they hit .295, but it was not enough to shake the Garnet. Sarah Girard and den Braven each recorded eight digs in the set and Wallace chipped in five kills as well. At 16-16 with Guin Mesh serving, Swarthmore won a crucial, back-and-forth point that put them in the driver's seat. Muhlenberg continued to fight and traded points until kills from Bridget Scott and den Braven sealed their fate.

Malia Scott stood out with two kills, seven digs and 44 assists while Emma Morgan-Bennett was a model of efficiency, hitting .538 behind seven kills and no errors in 13 attempts. Swarthmore also won the service battle with only two errors to Muhlenberg's seven.

Swarthmore wraps up the regular season on Saturday, Oct. 28 at rival Haverford with a 1 p.m. match. With a win, the Garnet will guarantee themselves the second seed for the postseason.