The Middlebury volleyball team closed its non-conference slate at the New England Challenge on Saturday, dropping 3-0 decisions to #16 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Springfield.

HIGHLIGHTS VS. MIT

• Knotted at 10-10 in the opening set, the Engineers took control with a service ace from Eileen Sadati swelled into seven of the next nine points to put MIT ahead 17-12.
• Middlebury trimmed the lead to a pair (17-15) before the home team ripped off an 8-2 run to seal the opener, 25-17.
• The Panthers came out energized in the second frame. Holding a 7-6 edge, a service error sparked five-consecutive points to put the squad ahead 12-6.
• MIT struck back with a 13-2 surge to build a 19-14 advantage. Four different attackers tallied kills in the stretch, including two from Jessie Trapp.
• The Engineers kept the momentum, posting six of the next eight points to snag a 25-16 set win.
• Deadlocked at 12-12 in the third, consecutive Middlebury attack errors gave MIT the momentum it needed, sparking a 9-3 surge to jump ahead by six (21-15).
• Campbell Bartley started one final push for the blue and white with a kill that turned into three of the next four points (22-18), but MIT closed the set with three-consecutive tallies to seal the 25-18 win and the sweep.

HIGHLIGHTS VS. SPRINGFIELD

• Tied at 9-9 in the opening set, a Pride setting error and kill by Molly Harrison sparked a 7-1 surge to give Middlebury a 16-10 lead.
• Springfield battled back behind an errant Panther serve and an ace by Ahunna James bookended nine of the next 10 points, pushing the hosts ahead 19-18.
• The Panthers stayed within striking distance until a successful attack by Emily Keaveney and a Middlebury setting error gave the Pride the opener 25-22.
• Springfield raced out to a 7-1 lead during the second. Emily Keaveney paced the run with three service aces and a kill. 
• The visitors cut into the lead with a 6-4 spurt for an 11-7 score. Campbell Bartley, Harrison and Ava Tuccio each tallied a successful swing in the spurt.
• Springfield immediately grabbed the momentum, claiming the second 25-13. Four different players tallied an accurate attack in the 14-6 run, highlighted by three from Aubrey Hughes.
• Neither side led by more than one until a 7-3 surge by Springfield made it 12-7 in the third stanza.
• The Pride surge continued until the score was 20-13. A kill by Middlebury's Lillian Caldwell sparked an 8-2 run to trim the deficit to 22-21.
• Springfield shook off the momentum swing and tallied the final three points of the contest to secure the 3-0 victory.

NOTES

• Molly MacDonald had 10 combined kills over the two matches. 
• Harrison tallied her 44th career double-double with a team-high 10 kills and 13 digs against Springfield.
• Annabella Rando surpassed the 800 career digs mark during the two-match slate.

Middlebury caps its regular season with a NESCAC doubleheader against Amherst on Friday at 7:00 p.m., followed by a battle with Hamilton on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. The program will honor its seniors before Friday's showdown with the Mammoths.