MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – The Hamilton College Continentals took the opening set against Middlebury College, but the Panthers rallied for a 3-1 NESCAC victory inside Middlebury's Pepin Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 26.
Season Update
- Hamilton (5-3, 1-2 NESCAC) has played each of its first eight matches away from home.
- Middlebury (11-2, 2-1) improved to 3-0 at home.
How It Happened (13-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-22)
- Hamilton jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the opening set behind kills by Mackenzie Sickinger '28 and Kathryn Fox '27 and back-to-back aces by Ayzlinn Trefren '28. Caitlin Allen '27 recorded her 200th career block to make it 10-2 in favor of the Continentals. Hamilton scored six straight with the help of two kills by Trefren to establish a 21-8 advantage. The Continentals closed out the set with a kill by Grace Seaman '29.
- Middlebury responded in the second set and built an 18-12 advantage. Hamilton battled back behind a five-point run that included kills by Trefren, Seaman and Fox to pull within 18-17. The Continentals tied the score at 23-23 on consecutive Trefren aces, but Middlebury scored the final two points and evened the match at one set apiece.
- The third set was close early before Middlebury used a 6-1 run for a 15-10 lead. Hamilton continued to battle and cut its deficit to 19-18 following a block by Allie Steel '28 and a service ace by Mia Jessen '28. Middlebury responded with four of the next five points and held on.
- Middlebury jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the fourth set. Sickinger provided a block and a kill to cap a 6-0 run for the Continentals and put them in front, 14-12. The teams remained within two points of each other until Hamilton took a 19-16 lead, but Gabby Pribisich sparked a 4-0 burst as the Panthers regained the edge. Rebecca McCloskey '30 recorded Hamilton's final point and made it 24-22 before Middlebury's Molly MacDonald delivered a kill that secured the match.
Notes
- Trefren tied her career high with a match-high 15 kills, provided a career-best four aces and recorded a season-high 19 digs for her third double-double of the season.
- Sickinger tallied a career-high six blocks for the second consecutive match and added a career-best seven kills.
- Allen registered four blocks and increased her career total to 203.
- Fox finished with 10 kills and just one error in 21 attack attempts and was credited with three blocks.
- Lucy Proud '29 and Grace Jansen '29 distributed 15 assists apiece. Proud added a career-high 15 digs for her first double-double of the season.
- Jessen recorded 16 digs and nine assists.
- Molly Harrison and McDonald led Middlebury with 12 kills apiece.
- Middlebury's Annabella Rando tallied a game-high 23 digs, while Chloe Cunniffe posted 21 assists.
Next Match
Hamilton plays its home opener against Tufts University (8-5 overall) on Friday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m.
