MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – In a match dominated by both back lines, the No. 13 nationally-ranked Wesleyan volleyball team managed enough on offense to earn a 3-0 sweep (25-15, 25-21, 25-23) over Middlebury on Friday night from Silloway Gymnasium. Wesleyan secures their best start to a season in program history, now sporting a 20-2 overall record (8-1 NESCAC) while the Panthers fall to 13-9 (4-5 NESCAC).
 
As a team, Wesleyan hit .161 which is their second-lowest attack percentage of the season, and the Cardinals' lowest in a three-set match. Middlebury managed the same number of kills as Wesleyan (37) and amassed more blocks (11-9) but a 7-4 edge in service aces for the Cardinals and a +9 advantage in digs (84-73) proved enough to secure the home sweep.
 
Bella Ahearn '23 turned in a solid performance, leading the team in kills with a match-high 13. Ahearn committed just three errors in 39 attempts for a .256 attack percentage. Sophia Lindus '26 went for 10 kills, 18 digs and three blocks as she turned in her sixth double-double in 22 matches this season. Grace Dennis '23 dished out 30 assists while adding 11 digs for her fourth double-double of 2022.
 
The Cardinals were led on defense by a sensational showing from libero Jenna Otaola '22 who posted 20 digs to lead the team and set a new season-high for the graduate in a three-set match. Bianca Ortiz '24 added 11 digs to give the Cardinals four players with 10+ digs for the match. The 83 digs for Wesleyan are the third-most the team has posted in a match all season.
 
Kathryn Morton '24 added four kills with no errors in 14 attempts to go along with seven total blocks (two solo) and eight digs which is a new career-high for the junior middle. Morton's seven blocks matched a season and career-high established all the way back on the first match of the season, a 3-0 home win over Coast Guard.
 
Middlebury was led by their libero Kelly Ferrero who was outstanding all night, posting a career-high 29 digs. Katie Kraczkowsky totaled eight kills with six blocks and 15 digs in a great all-around effort. Setter Gabbie O'Toole posted 28 assists, three kills, two blocks and 10 digs.
 
A slow start in the first set saw the Cardinals trail 6-2 in the early going before clawing back to tie the score at 9 apiece. A service run from Otaola made it 14-11 Wesleyan before Lindus led a 5-0 run off her serve to suddenly give the Cardinals a 20-13 lead. Kills from Lindus and Ahearn set up set point, which was finished off by a Dennis service ace as Wesleyan captured a 25-15 victory to open the match.
 
Middlebury again held an early advantage in the second set, rattling off four straight points to hold a 9-5 lead. The Panthers continued to hold their lead up until a 6-1 Wesleyan run made it 12-11 Cardinals. After slowly building a three-point lead, Middlebury tied the score at 17-17, getting two consecutive blocks in the sequence. However, a late service run from Grace Bell '23 opened the Cardinal advantage up to 23-18 before eventually closing the set on a Michelle Jorba '25 and Morton block to hand the Cardinals a two-set lead.
 
Both offenses struggled in the third set, with the two teams combining for 19 errors (11 for Middlebury, eight for Wesleyan) but the Cardinals prevailed thanks to some late set magic. Trailing 21-17, Wesleyan was handed some good fortunate as Ortiz's reception lobbed over the net and fell just inside the line. That play kickstarted a 4-0 run that tied the score at 21-21. Middlebury answered with consecutive points to make it 23-21 but the Cardinals finished the match in style with four unanswered points. Ahearn started the run with a kill and after Morton smashed an ace, an attack error from Middlebury clinched the victory for the Cardinals.
 
Armed with an 8-1 NESCAC record, Wesleyan faces a huge match on Saturday at home as a win over Hamilton would clinch the Cardinals the top seed in the NESCAC Tournament and the right to host the postseason tournament for the first time in program history. That match is slated for a 1 PM start.