The Middlebury volleyball team saw its seven-match winning streak come to an end in a 3-0 loss to #25 Tufts on Saturday. 

HIGHLIGHTS

• The Jumbos raced ahead in the opener, building a 6-1 edge capped by a kill from Maiwenn Kamdje.
• Middlebury chipped away at the deficit, fueled by a successful swing from Molly Harrison and a Caroline Byrne service ace to make it 8-6.
• Tufts ripped off a 13-5 spurt to jump ahead by 10 (21-11) before cruising to a 25-15 win in the first set. Emma Heckman and Claire Castor combined for seven kills in the initial run.
• Tied at 11-11 in the second stanza, a successful attack by Harrison and an ace by Annabella Rando gave the Panthers their first lead at 13-11.
• Tufts and Middlebury continued to trade the lead before two kills by Akpevwe Akpoigbe and a block pushed the Jumbos ahead by three (20-17).
• Following a timeout, a successful swing by Ava Tuccio swelled into six of nine for the visitors to knot the set at 23-23. 
• Tufts closed out the frame with back-to-back kills from Castor and Julia Griffiths for a 25-23 triumph.
• The hosts bolted out to a 6-1 lead to open the third stanza. The Panthers sliced the deficit to 7-5 with a block from Campbell Bartley and Gabby Pribisich making it 7-5.
• Middlebury kept within striking distance later in the set. Down 14-9, a kill by Byrne kicked off a 4-1 jolt for a 15-13 score and forced Tufts to use a timeout. 
• With the Jumbos clinging to a 19-17 lead, Heckman sparked six-straight points with a kill to conclude the sweep 25-17.

NOTES

• Harrison notched her ninth double-double in the past 10 contests with 10 kills and 13 digs.
• Rando had a team-best three service aces.
• The programs battled for the 38th time with each side taking 19 matches.

Middlebury returns to Pepin Gymnasium for a NESCAC weekend doubleheader. The Panthers battle Bowdoin on Friday at 7:00 p.m. before hosting #12 Colby on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.