The second-seeded Middlebury volleyball team trailed 2-0 but came roaring back to defeat seventh-seeded Bowdoin 3-2 in NESCAC Quarterfinal action on Saturday. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• Both teams split the opening 10 points until Molly Harrison and Lillian Caldwell recorded consecutive kills to push the Panthers ahead by two (7-5).
• The lead for the home team swelled to four (10-6) before a Middlebury service error sparked a 5-0 surge to push the Polar Bears ahead 12-11.
• Bowdoin kept the edge, pushing its cushion to six (18-13) by winning six of the next eight points with three kills combined from Skye LaMendola, Corrine Lamond and Haley Campau. 
• Middlebury would not go away, using a 10-4 surge sparked by consecutive kills from Caldwell to retake the lead 23-22. 
• The Polar Bears ripped off five of the next eight to get on the doorstep of clinching the opener at 27-26. 
• The Panthers tied the set at 27 apiece on a solo block by Gabby Pribisich, but Bowdoin secured the final two points to take the initial set 29-27.
• The visitors continued their momentum in the second stanza, grabbing nine of the first 12 points with three successful attacks from LaMendola to make it 9-3. 
• Middlebury chipped away at the deficit, getting as close as two (10-8) on a kill from Devin McCormack. 
• Bowdoin continued to ride the wave, stretching its lead to seven (19-12) with a 9-4 spurt capped by an ace from Anna Yeh. 
• The momentum switched back to the home squad late, as a Pribisich attack led to a 5-0 run to tie the set at 22 each. 
• The Polar Bears closed out the stanza moments later, securing three out of the last four points to take the set 25-23.
• Middlebury turned the tide to open the third, bursting out to a 10-7 lead headlined by two kills from Harrison and five miscues by the visitors.
• Bowdoin hung around, cutting the deficit to one point on a pair of occasions, but the Panthers slowly increased their advantage. 
• With Middlebury ahead 23-17, the Polar Bears had another surge, tallying four of the next five points, to whittle it down to three (24-21).
• The Panthers capitalized on an attack error to claim the set 25-21 and begin their comeback.
• Trailing 9-7 in the fourth frame, Middlebury rattled off a 12-2 run behind strong serving from Ella Pate and Campbell Keller to flip the script and give the Panthers a 19-11 advantage. 
• Bowdoin would not get much closer during the decisive fourth set as Middlebury eased to the 25-16 win.
• The Panthers jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the final stanza, capped with back-to-back aces from Annabella Rando.
• The Polar Bears cut the lead down to three points several times, but that was as close as they would get. Middlebury took advantage of an attack error, before a powerful kill by Caldwell sealed the 15-10 triumph.

NOTES

• Harrison moved into fifth place all-time in single-season kills with 348 after her 17 successful attacks on Saturday.
• Rando dug out a season-best 35 balls and handed out seven assists.
• The programs matched up for the 40th time in the series with Middlebury leading 28-12, as Bowdoin has claimed four of the six meetings in the NESCAC Tournament over the Panthers.

 Middlebury travels to top-seeded Colby next weekend for the remaining rounds, with its semifinal opponent to be determined.