The Middlebury volleyball team fell in straight sets to fourth-ranked Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on Friday in its first match of the New England Challenge.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Molly Harrison charged up the Panthers early in the opening set, recording three-consecutive service aces to help build an 8-5 advantage and force a stoppage.
• The Engineers clawed back after the timeout, jumping on a 6-0 run led by two kills from Consecrata Rozario to retake the edge at 11-8 before Middlebury answered with three consecutive points to tie the set at 11 apiece.
• Ali Gibbs provided a spark for MIT immediately after with four kills as part of a 10-3 blitz to take its largest cushion of the set at seven (21-14).
• The Panthers tried to chip away at the deficit, winning four out of the next five points with kills from Harrison and Gabby Pribisich to jump within four (22-18). The Engineers though ripped off the final three points of the set to take the opener, 25-18.
• MIT raced out of the gates in the second to a 9-3 lead with five combined successful attacks from Ella Gragg and Rozario. 
• Middlebury got back to within four (9-5) on an Engineer attack error and combo block by Pribisich and Devin McCormack. The home team answered again with a Julia Tolstova kill that swelled into securing seven out of the next 10 points to take a 16-7 edge. 
• The Panthers could not get any closer, as Gibbs and Tolstova combined for a block to seal the second by a score of 25-13.
• Both teams split the opening six points of the third before Eileen Sadati and Gibbs went back-to-back on kills to help the Engineers win five out of the next six points and take an 8-4 lead. 
• The momentum continued to stay with MIT, as another 8-2 rush powered by consecutive aces from Kayleigh May and two Panther attack errors stretched the deficit to nine (16-7).
• Lillian Caldwell and Annabella Rando tried to provide a spunk, recording a kill and two service aces combined to push the Panthers back within five at 17-12. 
• MIT held strong, securing eight out of the last 11 points, capped off by a Middlebury attack error to secure the set (25-15) and the sweep.

NOTES

• Harrison and Pribisich led the Panther attack with six kills.
• Gabbie O'Toole secured 20 or more assists for the 18th time this season.
• Rando dug out 10 or more balls for the 14th consecutive match (14).
• The Panthers and Engineers squared off for the 14th time. The Engineers own an 8-6 advantage and have won eight of the last nine.

Middlebury closes out the New England Challenge with a doubleheader on Saturday against Springfield (11:00 a.m.) and Babson (3:30 p.m.).