The Middlebury volleyball team saw its program record 14-game winning streak come to an end, as the Panthers (14-1, 4-1) dropped a tight 3-2 match at Wesleyan on Friday. The victory was the eighth straight for the Cardinals (11-1, 4-1). Middlebury continues conference play on Saturday, heading to Connecticut College for a 2:00 p.m. start.

The Panthers used a modest 6-0 run midway through the opening set to break open a close score. A pair of service aces by Katie Kraczkowsky and two kills by Laney Sullivan gave the visitors a 15-7 lead. Middlebury held off a late 7-1 surge by the Cardinals to win the opening frame 25-19 on a kill by Corley Doyle.

In the second set, the Panthers led early, but Wesleyan forced three ties before taking its first lead of the match at 12-11. The hosts later led 20-14, but a big push by the Panthers closed the gap to 24-23, but the visitors fell by two points on a kill by Mariko Tanaka to tie the match at 1-1.

Middlebury bounced right back, jumping out to a 9-2 advantage in the third stanza. The Panthers used a 12-3 run to push the difference to 14 points (23-9), before getting a kill by Doyle and a service point from Kelly Ferrero for a 25-15 triumph.

The Cardinals had the quick start in the fourth set, racing out to a 7-1 lead. The guests trailed 16-8, before going on a 5-0 spurt to close to within three points. Middlebury later closed the gap to 24-22 on a kill by Sullivan, but Wesleyan forced a fifth set on an attack from Tanaka for the final point.

Wesleyan never trailed in the final frame, but held off a late surge by the Panthers. Down by a 9-3 margin, Middlebury pulled to within a point at 12-11 on a Sullivan kill, only to have the hosts score three of the final four points to earn the 15-12 win and claim the match 3-2.

The Panthers had four players reach double digits in kills, led by Maggie Wise with 15, Sullivan and Doyle each had 12 and Jane Nelson with 10. Gabbie O'Toole dished out a career best 52 assists, while Ferrero had 24 digs. Doyle added six blocking assists and Kraczkowsky had four service aces.

For Wesleyan, Tanaka knocked down 23 kills, while Brina Kuslak added 17. Maya Lopansri had a game-high 58 assists and Jenna Otaola had 36 digs.