MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Middlebury College's Molly Harrison posted 15 kills and added 12 digs, and the Panthers defeated the Hamilton College Continentals in four sets (25-12, 20-25, 25-15, 25-21) at Middlebury's Pepin Gymnasium on Friday, Sept. 22.
Season Update
- Hamilton dropped to 5-3 overall and 1-2 in the NESCAC.
- The Panthers (4-3, 2-1) have won three of four matches played on their home court this season.
How It Happened
- Middlebury ran off the first four points and led the entire first set. The Panthers also had an 8-0 run that gave them a 16-4 advantage.
- The Continentals trailed 13-10 in the second set before they turned things around with a 9-2 run. A three-point spurt featuring a Kate Carman '24 kill, Middlebury attack error and Melissa Morelli '24 ace put Hamilton ahead for good at 17-14.
- The Continentals held a 13-12 edge in the third set, but eight straight points by the Panthers put them in control and drew Middlebury within one set of winning the match.
- There were no fewer than 12 ties in the fourth set, including at 21-21 after a kill by Hamilton's Carman. The Panthers scored the next four points, and Harrison ended the match with a kill.
Notes
- Middlebury held clear advantages over the Continentals in service aces (12-4) and total blocks (10-3).
- Hamilton's Summer McClintic '24, who returned to the lineup for the first time since Sept. 9, recorded a double-double with 12 kills and 10 digs.
- Carman and Elodie McGeiver '27 smacked 10 kills apiece.
- Morelli paced the Continentals with 30 assists and three aces, and added 11 digs and two blocks.
- Rylee Bergeron '26 tied a career high with 24 digs. Bergeron is fifth in the conference with 4.63 per set.
- Gabbie O'Toole handed out 37 assists for the Panthers.
- Kelly Ferrero led Middlebury with 29 digs and six aces.
- Britt Lange served four aces and Lexi Linafelter led the defense at the net with six blocks.
Next Match
Hamilton plays a non-conference match against Eastern Nazarene College (9-0 overall) at Middlebury on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 2 p.m.