The Middlebury volleyball team had a strong Saturday at the Williams tri-match. The Panthers handed the Ephs their first NESCAC loss in a five-set marathon before sweeping Maine Maritime to close the day.

HIGHLIGHTS VS. WILLIAMS

• Williams raced out to a 7-2 lead in the first set, highlighted by two kills from Kate Lane.
• Middlebury rallied, tallying 13 of the next 19 points to grab a 15-13 edge. Molly Harrison and Ava Tuccio combined for four successful swings in the run. 
• The hosts countered with a quick 6-3 spurt, sparked by a kill from Keely Campuzano to jump ahead 19-17 before the Panthers made it 21-20 with a successful attack by Gabby Pribisich.
• Middlebury never lost the lead as a Sophie Horn kill sealed an entertaining opening frame, 25-23.
• Tied 12-12 in the second set, back-to-back successful swings by Caroline Byrne sparked four of the next five points to put the Panthers ahead by three (16-13) and force an Ephs stoppage.
• Williams used three Middlebury errors to knot the set at 16-16 before the visitors regained a 20-18 advantage, fueled by two Ephs attack errors and a Harrison kill.
• The Panthers slammed the door shut on the second frame with six of the final seven points for a 25-19 score. Annabella Rando led the surge with two service aces.
• Williams claimed seven of nine points to open the third stanza. The sides split the ensuing six points before the Ephs took three of four to lead 13-6.
• Harrison tallied a trio of scoring swings to ignite a 7-1 run, pulling Middlebury within one at 14-13. Tatum Baker and Campuzano combined for five kills in a 9-1 run, building a 23-14 Williams lead.
• The Panthers closed the margin with four straight points, but Adalena Rodgers and Campuzano posted consecutive successful swings to punctuate the set, 25-18.
• The Ephs began the fourth session with 12 of the first 15 points. Fox registered two successful swings to lead the charge.
• The NESCAC foes traded 5-1 runs to put the hosts in front 17-8. After a 6-6 split of the next 12 points, Molly MacDonald used a pair of kills to power a 5-1 rally and pull her side within five, 21-16.
• Baker and Campuzano combined for four kills in the final six points to secure a 25-18 victory in the fourth stanza.
• After falling behind 4-1 in the final frame, Middlebury clawed back with a 7-3 rally to lead 8-7. Chi Obi helped Williams nab a 13-11 edge with three accurate attacks amidst a 6-3 spurt.
• Harrison parried the run with consecutive kills to spark a 5-1 stretch that secured the set (16-14) and the match.

HIGHLIGHTS VS. MAINE MARITIME

• Knotted 8-8 in the opening set, Harrison and Pribisich logged kills during an 8-1 Panther run to open up a 16-9 advantage. Maine Maritime answered with a 6-1 spurt, slicing the margin to 17-15.
• Kills from Lauren Baxter and Harrison, along with three attack errors, helped Middlebury roll to a 23-17 edge. The Mariners claimed five of the final seven points, but Harrison's third kill of the session sealed the 25-22 score.
• The Panthers cruised to an 11-6 edge in the second set. Pribisich recorded three successful swings while Byrne added a pair of kills in the run.
• Maine Maritime answered Middlebury's quick start with a 5-2 spurt, capped by a Hunnie Zuber-Stephens service ace, to trim the lead to 13-11.
• Both teams traded momentum until back-to-back kills by Sydney Williams made the score 24-23. Harrison ensured the set belonged to Middlebury, slamming a swing in between three Mariners to grab the second frame, 25-23.
• Each side split the first 12 points of the third stanza before a MacDonald kill sparked four points to put the Panthers ahead 10-6, forcing a Maine Maritime timeout.
• Middlebury kept its foot on the gas pedal. A successful attack by MacDonald and ace by Rando bookended 10 of 15 points to extend the lead to 20-11.
• Maine Maritime got as close as eight (23-15) before consecutive kills from MacDonald sealed the three-set sweep.

NOTES

• Harrison logged consecutive double-doubles against Williams (17 kills, 11 digs) and Maine Maritime (10 kills, 13 digs). She surpassed the 900 career successful attack mark during match one against the Ephs.
• Byrne notched her fifth match with 10 or more kills and digs with 12 and 14 in the victory over Williams.
• Campbell Bartley distributed 75 assists over the two matches.
• Middlebury and Williams met for the 59th time and squared off with Maine Maritime for the first time in the sport of volleyball.

Middlebury returns home for the first time in nearly a month to host Union College on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. from Pepin Gymnasium.