The Middlebury women's volleyball team will make its fifth overall NCAA Tournament appearance, when the Panthers travel to Stevens for an NCAA Regional this weekend. The matches will take place Friday-Sunday, November 12-14, with the winner advancing to the NCAA Quarterfinals. Middlebury will take on the host school Friday at 8:00 p.m. in the first round, with the winner meeting the Trinity (Texas)/Cedar Crest victor on Saturday with a time to be determined.

NCAA INTERACTIVE BRACKET

The Panthers are enjoying a banner season so far, hitting the 20-win plateau for the first time since 2012 and setting a program record with 14-straight victories to open the season. Middlebury is 20-5 on the season.

In the program's first four trips to the tournament, the Panthers have an even 4-4 mark with a trip to the regional final in 2010. 

Middlebury, which earned an at-large bid to this year's tournament, last played on Friday evening in a NESCAC Quarterfinal match against Amherst. The Panthers fell in five sets to the Mammoths, but edged Amherst 3-2 earlier in the year.

Other opening-round match-ups in Hoboken, N.J. are New York University facing Brooklyn, Clarkson taking on Stevenson and Trinity (Texas) playing Cedar Crest. Middlebury and Stevens have only faced each other once, with the Ducks posting a 3-1 victory at the Union Invitational in 2017.

The Panthers had a number of players land All-NESCAC honors, including first-year Gabbie O'Toole (Overland Park, Kan.), who was named the conference rookie of the year. Senior Maggie Wise (Winchester, Va.) secured All-NESCAC First-Team recognition, while O'Toole, senior Corley Doyle (San Francisco, Calif.), and sophomore Kelly Ferrero (San Francisco, Calif.) each were named to the second team, while O'Toole was tabbed as the 2021 NESCAC Rookie of the Year.

O'Toole stepped right in as the catalyst for Middlebury's attack as the team's setter, becoming the fourth Panther in NESCAC history to be named rookie of the year. She tops the league with 816 assists and is second per set at 9.60. O'Toole set a career-high with 58 assists in the NESCAC Tournament against Amherst, tying Lauren Barrett (9/25/10) for second place on Middlebury's single-season list. 

Wise, a second-team honoree in 2019, leads the conference in total kills at 308, while ranking per set (3.54). The outside hitter has recorded at least 20 kills in four matches this season and is riding a streak of reaching double digits in that category 11-straight contests. She has also added 246 digs.

Doyle has excelled as a middle hitter, contributing both offensively and defensively. She ranks second in the conference in hitting percentage (.370) and is second on the team in total kills with 227. On defense, Doyle leads the NESCAC in total blocks with 70 (18 solo and 52 blocking assists).

Ferrero tops the Panthers with 385 digs, with that total is good for second in the conference, with her 4.75 per set ranking third. She posted a career-best 41 digs in the NESCAC Tournament against Amherst. Offensively, Ferrero ranks second on the team with 32 service aces.

Senior Jane Nelson (Hopkins, Minn.) has had a steady season, contributing in a number of areas. The outside hitter has knocked down 152 kills, collected 115 digs, 28 blocks and has 25 service aces. Junior Laney Sullivan (Mill Valley, Calif.) brings more depth to the hitting position with 169 kills. She is one of just two Panthers to start 21 matches this season, and has played in all 25. 

Stevens arrives at the NCAA Tournament with a 26-5 record, including a 7-1 mark in MAC Freedom play. The Ducks topped DeSales in four sets on Nov. 6 to capture their second-straight MAC Freedom title. Senior Elizabeth Chu was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.