Middlebury, VT - In an intense back and forth match, Williams College (7-4,1-2 NESCAC) fell to Middlebury (7-4,3-0 NESCAC) 3-1. Tonight's match featured a total of 41 separate ties in score and 19 lead changes.
The opening of the first set saw the Ephs rally hard, a combination of six kills, two aces, and four Middlebury errors, for a total of 12 points, compared to 8 points, with the Ephs granting only two errors. Middlebury immediately captured a more uncoordinated opponent, going on a 4-point run, with two aces and two attack errors, to match the score at 12. A wrestle of exchanges ensued, with both teams majorly trying to find their footing in the match after committing many errors, and the score went back and forth. Middlebury called the first timeout, after a two-point run 19-18, and then Williams called a timeout soon after a four-point run 22-20. Annaliese Fricke gave the Ephs a very clutch 22nd point off an off-system ball that came from a fabulous dig out of the opponent's setter dump, but Middlebury gets another point off of a kill, now needing one point to win. Annaliese came back to deliver a powerful blow down-the-line at the opponent, and Middlebury launched at their chance but overshot, granting a tie 24-24. Tensions spiked as Middlebury took the next desperate point, and in the point right after, a perpetuating rally saw the Ephs get overwhelmed by great blocks and after giving the Panthers a chance, saw their set fall to Middlebury 26-24.
The next set started with the same level of competitiveness. After an exchange of a few points, Williams went on a four point run ending with a big block by Chi Obi. This block in the 8th point was starting to track heavy momentum, but after server Helen Qian went out of rotation, Middlebury immediately took their chance to come back. Lilly Fox predicted a masterfully read off the setter to save the dump, but a chance ball over to Middlebury was capitalized into a powerful kill. Helen Qian gave the 7th tie of the set with a quick and powerful kill down the right corner, starting a four point run proceeding with 2 attack errors from the Panthers and a wide open cross-court kill by Kate Lane. The Panthers come out of their forced timeout at 16-13 with a middle kill of their own, but as points keep getting evenly traded and Williams breaches 20 points first, the Panthers get pressured to make an ever more dire comeback run from their three-point deficit. An ace by Annaliese Fricke grazing the far left corner gave the Ephs a definitive set 22-18, so long as they didn't lose rhythm or fall to an increased pressure by the Panthers. Post-timeout, a quick line shot gave Middlebury a first point, followed by an ace, cutting the lead to 2. With tensions rising, Kate Lane drills the 23rd point, Sidra Wohlwend gets an ace, and Helen Qian manages to find a direct middle block giving the Ephs a rapid 3-points to seize the set 25-20.
Both teams opened the third set strong yet equally outmatched. Sidra Wohlwend pulled off a fantastic dig off the setter dump to give the Ephs a small yet meaningful two point lead in this tenacious set, but two kills by Panthers' Molly Harrison along with an attack error allowed Middlebury to take the lead. The Ephs proceed to completely neutralize their opponent with incredibly hard swings, allowing for many open chances to keep attacking and achieve a 4-point run, bringing the set 13-10 at a Middlebury timeout. The Panthers came back rehashed to win back three points, and another exchanging of points ensued. An ace by Keely Campuzanao put Williams ahead 18-16, but as seen before in this matchup, a series of exchanges where Middlebury pulled off two aces let the Panthers retake the lead 20-19. After a drill from Middlebury, the Ephs get pressured to call their own timeout, with a dangerous two-point deficit in this much-needed set for both teams. The Panthers came back with a devastating kill and block to threaten the set. Annaliese Fricke and Keely Campuzano, with a perfect tip, slightly closed the point gap, but in between, a kill by Middlebury gave the Panthers a score of 24-21. When all hope seemed to be lost, after an attack error by the Panthers, it was Annaliese Fricke who absolutely stepped up to the plate clinching two aces in this heated ending to tie the set 24-24 and prompt an incredibly worried Middlebury timeout. The Panthers manage to get first blood post-timeout, and successfully serve an ace for victory, winning their second set 26-24.
The fourth set opened much weaker for the Ephs than the typical sets have. Middlebury committed four errors to William's two, but still the Panthers were up 6-5. A middle kill by Obi Chi ties, and Annaliese gives her team the lead, and then a series of kills become exchanged back and forth, tying the set four separate times, as again, Annaliese Fricke, had 3 back-to-back kills for her team. After two Panther kills, the Ephs seem to lose their footing, committing two attack errors and giving Middlebury a dangerous four-point run. The Ephs fought relentlessly to close the gap in the middle of the set but just couldn't seem to outplay Middlebury's momentum and determination to finish the match. At the dangerous point 16-13, Williams seems to tap into their reserves, closing the 3-point gap over a series of 5 kills and an ace, forcing a Panthers' timeout 19-19. Hope looks to have come back for the Ephs as Morgan Daetz achieves an ace and assists Keely Campuzano who gets a powerful kill, but Middlebury's middle Ava Tuccio retaliates with two kills to tie the set at 22. Middlebury goes on to get two more kills, and put Williams in the same spot they've been twice before, but once again Williams pulls off the tie at 24. Unfortunately, the Ephs couldn't make their break at the third time, and fell 26-24 to end the match.Â
Ephs head coach Christi Kelsey gave her reflections on the hard fight today: "I think tonight really showed again how tough the NESCAC is going to be this year. Lots of really competitive volleyball on both sides.Â
We gave up a few key points in the middle part of each set that I think if we do a better job going forward of staying steady, that will help us for sure. A real highlight continues to be how resilient our team is. We have fought our way back and never given up in any set and I think that says volumes about this team's belief in each other. That will serve us well for sure tomorrow and going forward for October!"
The Ephs will be back home tomorrow playing UMass Dartmouth Saturday, September 28th 12:00 PM EST.
