The Middlebury volleyball team began its three-match road trip with a 3-1 triumph over Skidmore on Tuesday evening.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Knotted at 9-9 in the opening set, Molly Harrison and Caroline Byrne tallied back-to-back kills to put Middlebury ahead 11-9 before Skidmore rallied with four of the next six to jump ahead by one at 14-13.
• Both sides continued to trade the lead until late in the first stanza. A successful attack by Harrison blossomed into a 4-0 surge to give the Panthers a 24-20 lead and force a Thoroughbreds timeout.
• Skidmore cut the deficit to 24-22 before an attack error helped Middlebury take the opener, 25-22.
• The Thoroughbreds built up a 15-9 lead to begin the second, with five different players recording kills in the stretch.
• Skidmore stretched the advantage to ten (23-13) before a quick 4-1 spurt, commenced by a kill from Ava Tuccio, cut the deficit to 24-17. The hosts shook off the Panther charge with a kill by Maya Stolarz to seal the 25-17 victory and tie the match at one set apiece.
• Middlebury came out firing to open the third frame. Byrne led the blitz with three successful swings to help build an 11-4 advantage.
• Emma Ferrigno trimmed the lead to 11-6 with a service ace before an error and kill from Sophie Horn closed 12 of 19 points for Middlebury to make the score 23-13.
• An ace by Lauren Baxter and a Byrne kill gave the squad a 25-13 triumph.
• Each side continued to battle for momentum during the fourth stanza, splitting the first 28 points for a 14-14 score.
• Middlebury put its foot on the gas pedal with successful attacks from Bryne and Pribisich, bookending a 10-3 run to make it 24-17.
• Skidmore trimmed the lead to six before a kill down the middle from Tuccio secured the fourth (25-19) and the 3-1 match win.

NOTES

• Byrne reset her career-high with 14 successful attacks.
• Harrison notched her fourth double-double of the season with 14 kills and 14 digs. She also surpassed 1,000 career points.
• Tuccio surpassed the 500 career kill mark during Tuesday's match.
• The Panthers held the Throughbreds to a .077 hitting percentage and had eight blocks as a unit.
• Middlebury extended its winning streak over Skidmore to 19 consecutive matches.

The Panthers head to Massachusetts for two matches on Saturday against Williams (2:00 p.m.) and Maine Maritime Academy (4:00 p.m.).