The Middlebury volleyball team capped off a perfect 2-0 NESCAC home weekend with a 3-0 victory Saturday over Bates. The victory was the third-consecutive win in straight sets for the Panthers and the ninth this fall. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• The Bobcats moved out to a 7-4 lead in the opening set on a kill by Kate Ares.
• Middlebury produced a quick 9-3 run, capped by a kill by Katie Kraczkowsky to give the team a 13-10 advantage. 
• The Panthers slowly increased the lead to 19-13.
• Bates chipped away at the deficit, cutting it to four (21-17) on a kill from Julia Neumann, but Middlebury recorded the final four points to earn the 25-17 opening-set win.
• The Bobcats raced out to a 7-1 lead in the middle stanza, grabbing the six-point lead on a service ace by Alyssa Lowther.
• The Panthers ripped off seven unanswered points, taking an 8-7 edge on a Bobcat attack error. 
• Bates recorded a 6-1 spurt, highlighted by three-straight service aces from Kate Hansen, for a 13-9 advantage.
• Middlebury cut the deficit to one on four separate occasions before the Bobcats extended the lead out to 20-17.
• The Panthers responded, scoring six of the following seven points to take a 23-21 edge and put the set within reach.
• Bates knotted the set at 24 points apiece, but a kill by Kraczkowsky and a service ace from Gabbie O'Toole secured the 26-24 win.
• The Panthers jumped out to an 11-3 lead in the third set and were never challenged in the 25-12 victory to complete the sweep.

NOTES

• O'Toole recorded 21 assists in the triumph, continuing her streak of 20 or more in every match she has played.
• Kelly Ferrero has tallied double-digit dig totals in 15 of the 17 matches this season, finishing with 11 on Saturday.
• The team recorded a season-best 15 service aces in the victory.  
• The win over the Bobcats was the sixth-straight triumph and 19th in the last 20 meetings.