The Middlebury volleyball team dropped a 3-0 NESCAC decision to No. 24 Wesleyan (25-12, 25-8, 25-21) on Friday in Pepin Gymnasium. The Panthers (9-5, 3-2) return to the courts Saturday with a 2:00 p.m. home match against Connecticut College, while the Cardinals (14-2, 5-1) travel to Amherst tomorrow for a 1:00 p.m. contest.

In set number one, Wesleyan moved out to an 11-3 lead on a kill by Mia Hogan, before the Panthers sliced the deficit to 14-7 on a Cardinal attack error. Wesleyan put together a quick 5-2 run, taking a 19-9 advantage on a kill from Hogan and eased to the opening-set victory.

Ahead 8-5 in the second set, the visitors closed the stanza with 17 of the final 20 points, including three service aces from Olivia Guidotti and six kills by Nicole Hilton, and grabbed a two-set advantage.

In a tight third set tied at 17-17, the Cardinals tallied three-straight points, capped by a kill from Kaira Muraoka-Robertson, for a 20-17 edge. The Panthers responded with a quick 3-1 spurt, moving to within 21-20 on a Wesleyan attack error. The Cardinals posted four of the last five points, concluded by a kill from Hilton, to complete the sweep.

Maggie Wise had five kills for Middlebury, while Corley Doyle and Jane Nelson each had four kills. Emma Walsh dished out 12 assists to go along with eight digs, while Gigi Alper finished with a team-best 11 digs. Doyle had a block solo and two block assists.

Hilton led Wesleyan with 14 kills, while Hogan was also in double figures with 11. Muraoka-Robertson tallied 32 assists to go along with 14 digs, while Phia Bellizzi had a match-best 21 digs. Guidotti added 13 digs and finished with four service aces.