The Middlebury volleyball team (1-0) downed Saint Michael's in straight sets on Tuesday by scores of 25-15, 25-12, 26-24 to open the season. The victory was head coach Sarah Raunecker's 450th of her career as the 27-year veteran is 450-243. The Panthers return to action on Friday with an opening pair of matches at the Wheaton Invitational in Massachusetts, while the Purple Knights head to Plymouth State on Saturday for two contests.
 
With the opening set knotted at 8-8, Middlebury rattled off six of the next seven points for a 14-9 advantage. Highlighting the run for the Panthers was a pair of kills from Laney Sullivan and Jane Nelson, as Middlebury eased to the 25-15 first-set victory.
 
In the second frame, the Panthers jumped out to a 6-1 lead capped on a kill from Katie Kraczkowsky. The Purple Knights chipped away at the deficit, making it 10-9 on a service ace from Beth Syverson. Middlebury tallied 15 of the next 18 points to secure the second set by 25-12.
 
The third stanza was a back-and-forth affair. Knotted at 19-19, the Panthers tallied three-straight points sparked by a pair of service aces from Kelly Ferrero for the 22-19 edge. The team's traded points before tying at 24-24, but Middlebury hung on to close out the set 26-24.  
 
Corley Doyle led all players with nine kills, hitting .600 to go along with three blocking assists. Maggie Wise and Kraczkowski each recorded seven kills, while Gabbie O'Toole had a match-high 20 assists. Ferrero topped the team with seven digs and Wise added six, while Britt Lange recorded three service aces.
 
Abby Gallagher tallied a team best seven kills for Saint Michael's, while Sydney Krause led the Purple Knights with nine assists. Aaliyah Huihui-Martinez recorded a game high nine digs, while Syverson recorded a pair of service aces.