The Middlebury volleyball team raced to early leads in each of Saturday's three sets, sweeping previously unbeaten Trinity 3-0 in Pepin Gymnasium. The Panther win was their second NESCAC triumph of the weekend and fourth in a row.
 
HIGHLIGHTS 

• Middlebury quickly grabbed the first six points of the initial set, highlighted by a pair of service aces from Gabbie O'Toole and two kills from Lauren Baxter.
• The Bantams pulled to within seven (14-7) on a kill by Annette Schlunk. 
• The Panthers responded with eight of the next 10 points, including two kills apiece by Ava Tuccio and Molly Harrison, and breezed to the 25-13 win.
• The second set saw the hosts post a 4-1 edge before Trinity battled back to level the frame at 6-6 on a kill by Ellie Gordon.
• Trading the next few points, the Bantams grabbed their largest advantage of the set (11-9) on a kill from Schlunk.
• The Panthers answered with a 5-0 spurt, highlighted by two service aces from Campbell Keller for a 14-11 edge.
• Trinity clawed back to within one (15-14) on a kill down the line by Gordon.
• Middlebury put the set out of reach with a 9-2 run, securing the stanza with a kill by Tuccio for the 25-18 victory.
• The Panthers posted five of the initial six points in the third frame, capped by a kill from Harrison.
• The Bantams responded with a 13-5 run, securing their biggest lead of the match at four (14-10) on a kill from Eva Lekovic.
• Middlebury posted the next five points to regain the lead (15-14) on a block from Tuccio and Lillian Caldwell.
• Deadlocked at 22-22 , a Bantam setting error and attack out of bounds gave the Panthers a 24-22 advantage. 
• A kill from Lekovic pulled the visitors to within one (24-23), but a blast that tucked inside the back corner by Harrison gave Middlebury the set and the sweep.

NOTES

• Tuccio finished with an impressive .706 hitting percentage, posting 12 kills on 17 swings with no errors. She also added five block assists at the net. 
• Annabella Rando dug up 13 balls, giving her a double-digit total in each of the last four matches.
• O'Toole dished out 38 assists in the triumph, giving her 20 or more in 83 of 84 career matches.
• Harrison has tallied double-digit kills in eight-straight matches this season, including a match-best 13 in Saturday's victory.
• The programs played for the 36th time in a series that Middlebury possesses a 28-8 advantage. The Panthers have also claimed each of the last 13 matchups.

Middlebury continues its four-match homestand Tuesday with a 7:00 p.m. contest against Skidmore.