The Middlebury volleyball team claimed the first, third and fourth sets in convincing fashion, easing past Salisbury 3-1 during the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday. With the victory, the Panthers advance to the regional semifinals on Friday and take on the winner of the Gettysburg and Manhattanville match who play later today.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• Trailing 5-4 in the opening set, Middlebury ripped off a quick 5-0 run highlighted by a pair of service aces from Caroline Byrne for a 9-5 advantage.
• The Panthers continued to increase the lead, taking a nine-point edge (19-10) on a kill by Lillian Caldwell. 
• Salisbury pulled to within eight (22-14) on a kill from Emma Quandt, but Middlebury posted the final three points capped by a kill from Devin McCormack to take the 25-14 triumph.
• The Sea Gulls earned the first five points of the second frame, spearheaded by a pair of kills from Kiley McTaggart.
• Later in the stanza, Middlebury pulled to within three (12-9) on a service ace by Ella Pate, but Salisbury responded with a 5-1 spurt, securing a 17-10 edge on a kill by McTaggart.
• The Sea Gulls maintained their lead over the remainder of the frame, leveling the contest at a set apiece on a block by Quandt for the 25-15 victory.
• Knotted at 17-17 in a back-and-forth third set, the Panthers scored the next three points on successive kills from Molly Harrison for a 20-17 edge.
• Middlebury continued to ride the wave of momentum, rattling off the ensuing five points including a set-clinching kill from Ava Tuccio, for the 25-17 win.
• Even at 4-4 in the fourth stanza, the Panthers manufactured a 7-2 run highlighted by a pair of kills from Caldwell and two service aces by Gabby Pribisich for an 11-6 lead.
• Salisbury moved to within three (13-10) on a kill from Quandt.
• Middlebury ripped off a 9-2 run with three kills coming from Harrison, eventually securing the set and match on a swing by McCormack that tipped off the block for the 25-14 victory.

NOTES

• Harrison posted her 20th double-double of the season, concluding with a match-best 17 kills to go along with 14 digs. 
• Gabbie O'Toole handed out 34 assists, giving her 989 this season which sits sixth in program history. She also posted 20 or more assists in a match for the 100th time in her career. With her one service ace in the triumph, she vaulted into third place in the Panther record books with 147 for her career.
• Annabella Rando has tallied 10 or more digs in 22-straight contests, finishing with 11 in the opening round.
• The programs have met three times with Salisbury winning the first two matchups before Middlebury's win on Thursday. Today's contest was the first showdown between the programs in postseason action.
• The Panthers are making their eighth appearance in the NCAA Tournament and the third in the last four seasons.

Middlebury plays in a regional semifinal match on Friday at 4:30 p.m., with its opponent to be determined following the day's next match.

POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE