The Middlebury volleyball team dropped a NESCAC contest at Amherst (9-1, 3-0) on Friday in LeFrak Gymnasium in three sets (25-21, 25-15, 25-20). The Panthers (7-3, 2-1) return to action next Friday when they travel to Trinity for a 7:00 p.m. contest with the Bantams.

With the opening set knotted at 12-12, the Panthers mustered a 7-2 run for a 19-14 advantage on a kill from Corley Doyle. Amherst rattled off an 8-1 spurt, grabbing a 22-20 lead on a Sophie Launsbach service ace. A kill from Shea Golden brought the Panthers to within 22-21, before the hosts tallied the final three points of the set.

The second set saw the Mammoths race out to a 10-3 lead on a Panther attack error. Middlebury clawed its way back to within 11-7 on a kill by Emma Walsh, but Amherst went on a 7-1 run and was never challenged for a 2-0 edge.

Deadlocked at 8-8 in the final set, the Mammoths recorded the ensuing nine points for a 17-8 edge. The Panthers cut it to 18-11 on a setting error by the hosts, but Amherst posted the next three points for a 21-11 lead on a kill by Launsbach. Middlebury rattled off eight of the next 10 points, moving to within 23-19 on a kill by Doyle. The teams exchanged the next five points, as Amherst recorded the three-set sweep.

Doyle paced the Middlebury attack with nine kills, while Maggie Wise and Jane Nelson each had seven. Walsh and Chellsa Ferdinand both posted 14 assists. With those assists, Ferdinand has amassed 1,619 for her career, moving her into sixth place in program history. Gigi Alper dug up a team-best 24 balls, while Wise and Ferdinand each posted 10.  

Launsbach led Amherst with 14 kills, while Emily Kolsky and Jamie Dailey each produced eight. Charlotte Duran dished out 35 assists to go along with 10 digs, while Kolsky had 14 digs and Skyleur Savage added 13. Claire Dennis tallied four block assists at the net.