The Middlebury volleyball team outlasted Hamilton 3-1 in Pepin Gymnasium on Friday evening. Knotted at 1-1, the Panthers claimed two tightly contested sets to earn the hard-fought NESCAC win.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• Middlebury took advantage of a pair of attacking errors to take a 2-0 edge to start the match.
• The Panthers slowly increased their advantage, making it 17-5 with a solo block from Lexi Linafelter. 
• Two consecutive kills by Molly Harrison put the match within reach (23-10) before a block by Linafelter and Lauren Baxter sealed the 25-12 triumph.
• Tied at 14 points a piece in the second frame, the Continentals had a 5-1 burst capped by a kill from Summer McClintic to make it 19-15.
• Middlebury pulled within two points four times, but Hamilton tallied the final four points for the 25-20 win.
• Knotted at 13-13 in the third set, the Panthers went on an impressive 12-2 run highlighted by strong serving from Kelly Ferrero, to ease to the 25-15 triumph.
• The fourth stanza was a back-and-forth affair, with the score deadlocked on 12 different occasions. Knotted at 21 points apiece, Middlebury rattled off four-straight points to claim the set (25-21) and the match 3-1. 

NOTES

• Ferrero had six service aces during the contest, totaling 100 for her career. 
• Today's match marked the 27th meeting between the programs, with the Panthers increasing their record to 23-4 against Hamilton.

Both teams are back in action on Saturday, with the Continentals squaring off against Eastern Nazarene at 2:00 p.m., before Middlebury takes on the Lions at 4:00 p.m.