The Middlebury volleyball team breezed by Saint Michael's in three sets on Tuesday evening from Colchester, Vermont.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Knotted at 10-10 in the opening stanza, Natalie Stanford and Molly MacDonald combined for three kills amidst a 6-2 spurt to establish a 16-12 Panther edge.
- The pendulum swung back and forth as the sides divided the ensuing 16 points evenly to bring Middlebury to set point (24-20). The Purple Knights claimed the next two tallies, but a service error helped the navy and white finalize the first session.
- Middlebury used a pair of service aces and attack errors from the hosts to build an early 6-3 edge in the second set. Caroline Byrne logged both aces and added an accurate attack in the stint.
- A 6-5 split of the next 11 points favored Saint Michael's, with Rory Tower landing three sharp swings in the stretch. The hosts then recorded three unanswered points to snag their first lead of the frame (12-11).
- The foes traded tallies until consecutive points off a service error and Tower putaway helped the hosts retain the lead at 19-17. Middlebury flipped the switch from there, capitalizing on several attack errors to rattle off eight unanswered points and claim the second set, 25-19.
- Neither team could pull away early in the third, playing to a 7-7 score to begin the decisive set. The momentum changed quickly as the Panthers used a 12-3 surge to create a commanding 19-10 advantage. Molly Harrison, Gabby Pribisich and Eliza Lowe each posted pairs of kills in the run.
- Tower and Nora Schulze looked to chip away at the deficit, joining forces for four putaways to power a 7-3 swing and slice the margin to 22-17.
- Kills from MacDonald and Devin McCormack sandwiched a service ace to conclude the evening's proceedings (25-18).
NOTES
- Stanford paced the Panthers with 11 kills and a season-high .476 hitting percentage.
- Chloe Cunniffe tallied 14 assists and 11 digs for her first collegiate double-double.
- Annabella Rando recorded 15 digs, while Harrison (10) also reached double digits.
- The programs faced for the 34th time with Middlebury owning a 27-7 advantage and wins in 15 of the last 16 meetings.
The Panthers return to action on Friday, opening their run in the Skidmore Classic against Roger Williams at 7:00 p.m.
