The Middlebury volleyball team battled back from a two-set deficit on Friday but Amherst claimed the decisive fifth stanza for a 3-2 decision in the 50th all-time meeting between the programs. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• The Panthers moved out to an early three-point advantage (6-3) in the first set on a Mammoth attack error. Amherst replied with a 6-0 spurt, grabbing a 9-6 lead on a Middlebury miscue.
• The visitors answered with seven of the next nine points, securing a 13-11 edge on a kill from Lauren Baxter.
• Later in the frame with the score even at 21-21, Amherst rattled off four of the last five tallies, capped by a service ace from Charlotte Rasmussen, for the 25-22 win.
• The second stanza saw the Mammoths quickly move out to a 7-3 advantage on a kill from Sofia Camilo.
• The Panthers roared back with the ensuing nine points, highlighted by two kills apiece from Molly Harrison and Devin McCormack to surge ahead by five (12-7).
• The hosts swung back the momentum, manufacturing a 12-4 run for a 19-16 advantage.
• Middlebury didn't go away, leveling the set at 20-20 on a kill from Harrison before Amherst recorded five of the last seven points for the 25-22 triumph.
• The Panthers grabbed a 7-2 edge in the third stanza, including two kills each from Gabby Pribisich and Harrison.
• The Mammoths methodically chipped away at the deficit, cutting it to 18-17 on a kill by Renwick.
• Middlebury rattled off a quick 5-0 spurt, highlighted by a trio of kills from Harrison, to secure a 23-17 lead and cruise to a 25-20 decision.
• Following a back-and-forth start to the fourth, the Panthers possessed a 9-7 edge on a kill from Baxter.
• Amherst pulled to within one on a Middlebury service error, but the Panthers posted six of the next eight points, highlighted by a pair of kills from Harrison and Ava Tuccio to gain a six-point edge at 18-13.
• After consecutive kills from McCormack gave Middlebury a six-point lead at 20-14, the Mammoths ripped off four in a row to move within two (20-18).
• The Panthers responded with the last five points of the frame to clinch the set (25-18) and send the contest to a decisive fifth.
• The teams exchanged points early in the final frame before a kill by Camilo and an ace by Bailey Reed gave the Mammoths a 6-3 edge.
• Following a timeout, Middlebury pulled within one on a kill from Baxter, but Amherst tallied a 9-5 run to swipe the final frame, 15-10.

NOTES

• Harrison surpassed the 300-kill plateau for the second consecutive season. She posted a match-best 23 kills and tallied 15 digs, giving her a double-double for the fourth time in the last five contests.
• Annabella Rando recorded a career-best 29 digs, while Caroline Byrne finished with a career-high 15 digs.
• Gabbie O'Toole dished out a season-best 54 assists to go with 17 digs.

The Panthers close their regular-season slate with a trip to Hamilton on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.