The Middlebury volleyball team eased past Bates in straight sets on Friday in Pepin Gymnasium. The Panthers utilized a quick 5-0 run in the tightly-contested first set, before pulling away in the second and third stanzas to complete the 3-0 victory.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• The opening frame featured seven ties and four lead changes through the opening 27 points. Trailing 14-13, Middlebury rattled off a quick 5-0 spurt, highlighted by a pair of kills from Lillian Caldwell, for an 18-14 edge.
• The Bobcats pulled within two (18-16) on kills from Anais Reneaum and Emma Petard.
• The Panthers responded, tallying four of the next five points, capped by a kill by Ava Tuccio to take a 22-17 advantage before taking the opening stanza by a 25-19 score.
• Clinging to a one-point lead (4-3) in the second frame, Middlebury jumped on an 8-2 blitz for a 12-5 cushion on a service ace by Molly Harrison.
• That lead grew to as many as 12 (20-8) on a service ace from Gabbie O'Toole. Bates cut the deficit to seven late with a 4-0 surge before O'Toole capped the stanza with a kill to take the second, 25-17.
• Middlebury quickly moved out to a 7-2 advantage in the third set on a service ace by Campbell Keller that clipped the net and rolled over for the point.
• Bates clawed back into the stanza, slicing the deficit to 13-11 on a kill by Malina Young. 
• The Panthers posted six of the next eight points, building a 19-13 lead on a Bobcat hitting error. 
• Middlebury continued to pull away in the final set, capping the sweep on a pair of service aces by Caroline Byrne for the 25-16 triumph.

NOTES

• Bryne finished with season-best totals of three service aces and nine digs.
• Harrison posted a match-high 14 kills to go along with 10 digs for her ninth double-double this fall. She also tallied her 11th double-digit successful attack total of the season.
• O'Toole dished out 33 assists in the victory, giving her 2,966 for her career. 
• The Panthers collected 12 service aces as a team, marking the sixth time in the last nine contests they have finished with 10 or more.
• The programs played for the 37th meeting with the Panthers possessing a 25-12 advantage in the all-time series. Middlebury has won each of the last eight matchups.

The Panthers wrap up their NESCAC home weekend when they entertain Tufts on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.