Williams Advances To NESCAC Semifinals With Win Over Middlebury

Middletown, CT - Williams College (14-7, 8-3 NESCAC) took on Middlebury College (14-11, 5-6 NESCAC). The Ephs won in 4 sets, advancing past the first round of the NESCAC tournament for the first time since 2015.

The fourth set was led by Middlebury early on as they established a 5-2 lead. However, the Ephs embarked on a 7-1 run to take the lead, forcing a Panther timeout after a service ace from senior Gracie Guidotti made it 9-6 for Williams. The Ephs would never let Middlebury retake the lead, as they were able to keep the Panthers at an arm's distance away for the remainder of the set. Although Middlebury was able to pull within one point late in the set at 20-19, the Ephs won the next four points in a row to set up five match points at 24-19 with a strong kill from senior Anna Tosolini. The Panthers were able to save one of the match points with a kill from first year Lillian Caldwell, but a service error on the next point clinched a Williams victory, 25-20.

The first set was close early on, as a kill from junior Celia Adams tied the set at 6-6. With Williams later holding a narrow 11-10 advantage, the Ephs then proceeded on a 9-2 run to blow the set open. For the rest of the set it was all Williams, with sophomore Sidra Wohlwend ending the set at 25-14 with her second service ace in three points. Williams hit very well as a team in the first set, recording a .375 hitting percentage compared to .056 for Middlebury. 



The second set was tight from start to finish, although Middlebury generally held a slim lead throughout. A double block from junior Marit Hoyem and senior Morgan Persky brought the Ephs back within one point at 12-11, although the Panthers used a 4-1 run to reopen a 16-12 advantage. Middlebury maintained that lead until 22-18, when the Ephs used a four point run to tie the game with a kill from Celia Adams. Although each team held set points over the next few points, it was the Ephs who were able to close out the set with back to back powerful kills from Marit Hoyem, claiming the second set 29-27. 

In the third set, Middlebury raced out to an early 8-3 lead. However, the Ephs improved from there as they won seven of the next nine points to tie the game at 10-10. A smart kill from Marit Hoyem gave the Ephs their first lead of the set at 14-13, then a double block from Marit Hoyem and Morgan Persky on the very next point forced the Panthers to take a timeout. The set went back and forth from there on out, with both teams trading runs and the advantage. Another kill from Marit Hoyem, her fourth of the set, tied the game at 23-23, but Middlebury was able to win the next two points and claim the third set 25-23. 

Middlebury leaders were: junior Katie Kraczkowsky with 15 kills, sophomore Gabbie O'Toole with 40 assists, and junior Kelly Ferrero with 22 digs. Williams leaders were: Celia Adams with 15 kills, junior Lauren Kauppila with 24 assists, and Sidra Wohlwend with 22 digs.

After advancing to the next round of the NESCAC tournament, Eph head coach Christi Kelsey commented, "We are so proud of this team and their grit to pull out a very tough win. Middlebury made this an incredibly hard fought match and it really showcased the level of NESCAC volleyball on both sides. The first set we had a game plan and executed at a really high level. The second set, Middlebury responded well and really pushed us to make some adjustments which our team did to close out the set. The third set got away from us a little bit with our ball control at the end, but then we leveled out in the fourth and really elevated our game toward the end to close out the match. Huge win for our team and excited for the opportunity to play again tomorrow!"

The Ephs will be back in action at 3:30 PM EST on Saturday, November 5th against Tufts University in the semifinals of the NESCAC tournament, taking place at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT.