The Middlebury volleyball team claimed Friday's tight opening set against Tufts, before pulling away to complete the sweep in Pepin Gymnasium. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• The first frame featured nine ties and three lead changes with neither team possessing greater than a two-point advantage. Knotted at 23-23, a Tufts' attack error and a kill by Lexi Linafelter gave Middlebury the 1-0 edge.
• Tied at 3-3 in the second stanza, the Panthers rattled off a quick 5-0 spurt as a service ace from Kelly Ferrero gave the hosts an 8-3 advantage.
• The Jumbos pulled to within four (18-14) later in the set on a kill by Brittany Bennet. 
• Middlebury reeled off seven of the final eight points of the frame for the 25-15 triumph.
• Clinging to a narrow 9-8 advantage in the third set, the Panthers slowly increased their lead to seven (20-13) on a Jumbo attack error.
• Middlebury maintained the advantage over the remainder of the stanza, winning the set and completing the sweep on a kill down the line by Molly Harrison.

NOTES

• Harrison continued her strong offensive output, finishing with 11 kills. The double-digit total marked the sixth-straight match in which Harrison achieved the feat and the eighth time in 10 outings.
• Harrison finished with her second double-double this fall, highlighted by a season-best 19 digs. 
• Campbell Keller tallied a career-high nine digs during the victory.
• The programs played for the 36th contest with the all-time series deadlocked at 18-18.

The Panthers return to competition on Saturday with a pair of matches at Skidmore. Middlebury takes on Clarkson at 11:00 a.m., followed by a 1:00 p.m. contest against Rochester.