The Middlebury volleyball team dropped a very tight 3-0 decision at Bowdoin (13-4, 6-1) on Friday night. The Panthers (15-2, 5-2) return to action at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday at #24 Tufts.

The guests jumped out to a 7-3 lead on a kill from Lucy Ambach. Bowdoin chipped away, tying the match at 21-21 before recording the final four points for the first-set victory.

Trailing 7-6 in set number two, the Polar Bears ran off six points for a 12-7 advantage. Middlebury got no closer than three, as the hosts were 25-21 winners in the second set.

Neither team led by more than two points in the third set until Bowdoin went ahead 15-13. Middlebury tied the score at 15-15 on a kill from Maggie Wise, before the Polar Bear tallied nine of the next 11 points to go up 24-17. The Panthers made a late charge, but Bowdoin held on for the 25-21 win to secure the match.

Middlebury, which ranks seventh nationally with a .274 hitting percentage, hit just .125 in the match, while Bowdoin hit .194.

Wise paced the team with 11 kills and 16 digs, while Corley Doyle and Laney Sullivan earned seven kills each. Kelly Ferrero dug up 16 balls, Katie Kraczkowsky had 14, while Gabbie O'Toole dished out 26 assists. Doyle added three solo blocks in the match.

Sophia Pahl led all players with 14 kills for the hosts, while Cori Gray and Jaida Hodge-Adams added 11 apiece. Ella Haugen finished with 36 assists and 17 digs in the contest.