The Middlebury volleyball team dropped Saturday's opening set, but the Panthers rebounded to win the second through fourth sets for a 3-1 triumph over Hamilton in Pepin Gymnasium.
HIGHLIGHTS
- The Continentals raced out to a 10-2 lead in the opening set. Ayzlinn Trefren tallied a pair of service aces, while Kathryn Fox posted two kills to aid the surge.
- Middlebury pulled to within six (13-7) on a successful swing from Mischa Pendleton, but Hamilton pulled away with nine of the ensuing 11 points for a 25-13 decision.
- Deadlocked at 8-8 in the second frame, the Panthers methodically moved out to an 18-12 advantage on a Continental miscue.
- The blue and buff didn't go away, tying the stanza at 23-23 via an ace by Trefren. Middlebury held strong with a kill from Molly Harrison and a hitting error from Hamilton to seal a 25-23 victory.
- Early in the third frame, the Panthers raced out to an 8-4 edge, fueled by three consecutive kills off the arm of Molly MacDonald.
- That lead slowly grew to as many as six (19-13) on a Hamilton service error.
- A successful attempt by Trefren capped a 6-1 rally, slicing the Middlebury edge to 20-19.
- Kills by Ella Beebe and Natalie Stanford bookended three straight points to give the hosts a lead they did not relinquish in a 25-21 decision.
- The Panthers jumped out to a 6-2 lead on a kill from Harrison to commence the fourth frame before the Continentals responded with a 12-6 run to grab a 14-12 edge.
- Following a timeout, Hamilton took advantage of a Panther miscue for a 19-16 lead.
- Middlebury answered with seven of the next eight points, kickstarted by back-to-back kills from Gabby Pribisich, for a 23-20 score.
- The Continentals cut the deficit to a pair (24-22) on a kill by Rebecca McCloskey, but MacDonald closed the set and match with a swing that found space for the four-set victory.
NOTES
- MacDonald and Harrison paced a balanced output, tying for team-high honors with 12 kills apiece. Stanford closed her afternoon with eight, while Beebe (six) and Pendleton (five) aided the cause.
- Harrison's 12-kill effort vaults her into fourth place in the program's career kill category with 1,174.
- Beebe posted a career-best six block assists.
- The programs met for the 30th installment, with the Panthers holding a 25-5 advantage in the all-time series.
Middlebury returns to competition on Wednesday with a 7:00 p.m. match at Union (N.Y.).
