MIDDLEBURY, Vt.- The Vermont State University, Castleton women's volleyball lost to the Middlebury College Panthers Wednesday evening at Pepin Gymnasium.
Middlebury won in straight sets by the score of 25-17, 25-10, and 25-16.
With the loss, the Spartans fall to 4-2.
The Panthers raced out to a 7-2 lead, before Castleton responded with a 7-3 run on their own, which forced Middlebury to call a time out. Madison Sheehan (Queensbury, N.Y.) recorded three of her team-high seven kills during the run.
Middlebury later took command in the set, but Castleton did go on a mini 3-0 run to cut Middlebury's lead to 22-17. However, the Panthers scored the final three points to take the set.
Castleton established early momentum in the second set by scoring the first three points, including consecutive kills by Lilli Burrows (Yarmouth, Maine). However, it was all Middlebury after that, and the Panthers coasted to a 25-10 set win.
The Spartans scored the first point of the third set which was a kill by Alondra Rojas (Thousand Oaks, Calif.). However, much like the first two sets, Middlebury proved to be too powerful. However, Castleton did not go away quietly. Brianna Walsh (Dallas, Texas) recorded back-to-back service aces to keep them in it, but it was not enough, and Middlebury held on for the sweep.
Sheehan led all Spartans with seven kills, doing so on just 12 attempts and one error for a .500 hitting percentage. Rojas led the team in assists with 14 and digs with 11, which marks the fifth time she had recorded double digit assists and digs in the same match.
Up next, the Spartans will travel to Plattsburgh State this Friday. First serve is set for 6 pm.
