The Middlebury Volleyball team began its season with a resounding straight-sets victory over in-state opponent Saint Michael's. Katie Kraczkowsky led the Panthers with a career-high 10 kills.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The first set of the match was a back and forth affair, before Middlebury began to pull away. Knotted at 11-11, the Panthers tallied seven of the next 10 points to take an 18-14 lead.
• From there, Middlebury controlled the opening set, easing to the 25-18 win.
• The Panthers raced out to a 8-2 advantage in the middle stanza, capped by a service ace from Kelly Ferrero. 
• Middlebury did not look back from that point on, handling the Purple Knights and taking the second set by a score of 25-13.
• The final frame was much more tightly contested, as Saint Michael's jumped out to an early 4-0 edge.
• The teams exchanged points throughout the middle of the set, until a service ace from Jillian Orth and a kill from Beth Syverson pushed the Purple Knights advantage to 22-19. 
• Middlebury responded, scoring six unanswered points, including two kills and a block from Lexi Linafelter, to secure the 3-0 sweep.

NOTES

• The Panthers extended their winning streak to 12-straight victories over Saint Michael's. 
• The Purple Knights fall to 1-7 on the season.