The Middlebury women's volleyball team opened up NESCAC play with a pair of matches at Williams. The Panthers defeated Trinity 3-0 (25-20, 25-15, 26-24) in their first match of the day, before falling to Amherst, 3-2 (15-25, 20-25, 25-23, 25-21, 15-12). A complete wrap-up will follow on Monday.

Against Trinity, sophomore Jane Handel (Evanston, Ill.) had a big match offensively with 17 kills to go along with 10 digs and three block assists. Sophomore Caroline Cordle (Atlanta, Ga.) added eight kills and 12 digs, while senior Natalie DuPre (Louisville, Ky.) earned 10 digs in the win.

Amherst avenged an earlier season loss to Middlebury with a come-from-behind five-set win. Handel (15) and first-year player Julia Gibbs (Houston, Texas) (11) led the team in kills in the match, while junior Lauren Barrett (Medfield, Mass.) had 46 assists. DuPre led the defense with 23 digs, followed by rookie Caitlin Barrett (Medfield, Mass.) (15), Cordle (15) and Handel (12).