The 25th-ranked Panther women's swimming and diving team kicked off the four-day NESCAC Championship on Thursday with a pair of strong efforts during the 800-yard freestyle relay. Eighth-ranked Williams won the event and sits in first place with 90 points after the initial day, while second through fourth places are separated by four points with #9 Tufts in second (76 points), #19 Amherst in third (74 points) and the Panthers in fourth (72 points). 
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• Middlebury's "A" team was composed of Hannah Baumgartner, Anna McGrew, Isla Johnston and Lauren Jolley. The Panthers placed fourth out of 22 teams, clocking in at 7:34.10. Thursday's time was also an NCAA 'B' cut and gave the Panthers 52 points.
• The "B" quartet of Holly Mattson, Grace Nadecki, Olivia Schwarz and Sage Huddleston touched the wall with a time of 7:43.92 to earn 20 points for Middlebury.

NOTES

• The league meet features six conference squads that are ranked in the latest College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Top 25 national poll. Joining the top-four placers on Thursday are Colby (#12) and Hamilton (#23).

The Panthers are back in action on Friday with preliminaries starting at 10:00 a.m., followed by diving at 1:30 p.m. and the finals beginning at 5:45 p.m.