WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL OPENS SEASON WITH 3-1 MARK The Middlebury College women’s volleyball team opened up its season with a 3-1 record en route to a second place finish at the Potsdam Invitational Tournament. The Panthers opened their season with a 3-1 win over the host school on the first night of the tourney. Junior Lexie Fisher (San Francisco, Calif.) led the offense with 14 kills, while senior Lacee Patterson (Aspen, Colo.) added seven and senior Amy Heath (Whitefish Bay, Wis.) and sophomore Kelly Nichols (Greendale, Wis.) added six apiece. Nichols and first-year player Reisa Bloch (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.) had 18 digs apiece, while Patterson added 17 to go along with her three blocks.
Later that night, the Panthers moved to 2-0 as they earned a 3-2 win over Russell Sage. Nichols earned 16 kills in the match, Fisher had 13, while sophomore Josie Keller (York, Pa.) banged out 10. Sophomore Olivia Minkhorst (Atlanta, Ga.) was big on defense, earning 36 digs in the match, followed by Fisher with 28. Patterson had 26 digs and 45 assists in the win.
Middlebury suffered its first loss of the season on Saturday as they fell 3-0 in a tight match with Rochester. Sophomore Kate Heath (Whitefish Bay, Wis.) led the team with 11 kills, while A. Heath had nine. Bloch earned 19 digs, Fisher had 16, while Patterson picked up 14.
In the tournament finale, Middlebury picked up a 3-2 win in a hard-fought battle with Oswego. Fisher had 14 kills in the match, while Nichols had 11. Five players had double figures in digs, led by Fisher (20), Patterson (19), Bloch (18) and junior Amy McCowan (Lafayette, Calif.) with 18. Patterson dished out 41 assists, while Keller had five total blocks.
For her solid performance on the weekend, Fisher was named to the all-tournament team.
• Women’s volleyball record: 3-1
• Up next: 9/15-16 @ NESCAC Quad (Bowdoin)
WOMEN’S GOLF DOMINATES AT ST. LAWRENCE The Panther women’s golf team started the season strong as they absolutely dominated at the St. Lawrence Invitational. Middlebury finished the two-day tourney with a 628, 47 strokes ahead of its nearest opponent in the nine-team tournament. Senior Heather Gallagher (Toronto, Ont.) was the medalist firing a 76 on day one and a 75 on day two for a 151. Finishing second in the tournament was her teammate, senior Kerry Ortega (Clinton, N.Y.), who shot a 156. Placing fifth was sophomore Julie Ellenberger (Concord, Mass.) with a 160, followed by senior Allison Ortega (Clinton, N.Y.) in sixth (163) and junior Karen Levin (Morton Grove, Ill.) in 10th (169).
• Women’s golf wins at St. Lawrence
• Up next: 9/15-16 – Middlebury Invitational
MEN’S SOCCER ROLLS OVER CONN. COLLEGE
Transfer Casey Ftorek (Wolfeboro, N.H.) tallied a hat-trick, powering Middlebury to a 4-0 victory over host Connecticut College in the season opener for both teams. Senior John Sales (Downington, Pa.) added a score for the Panthers in the NESCAC contest. Senior Billy Brennan (Winnetka, Ill.) had three assists in the win, while sophomore Baer Fisher (Kenilworth, Ill.) added two. Senior Zack Toth (Carlisle, Mass.) had two saves for the Panthers to earn the shutout. For his three-goal performance, Ftorek was named the NESCAC Player of the Week. • Men’s soccer record: 1-0 • Up next: 9/12 @ Castleton, 9/16 vs. Tufts – 1:00
WOMEN’S SOCCER EARNS SHUTOUT IN SEASON-OPENER The Middlebury College women’s soccer team opened its season with a tight 1-0 win at Connecticut College. Sophomore midfielder Tiffany Orlowski (Staten Island, N.Y.) scored with 23:35 remaining in the second half, lifting Middlebury (1-0) to a 1-0 victory against host Connecticut College. Senior Caitrin Abshere (Madison Wis.) assisted on the game-winner for the Panthers in this season-opening NESCAC tilt. Sophomore goalie Adele Plunkett (Austin, Texas) stopped six shots for the visitors.
• Women’s soccer record: 1-0
• Up next: 9/12 vs. Norwich – 4:00, 9/16 vs. Tufts – 12:00
FIELD HOCKEY EDGES CONN.
The Panther field hockey team opened its season with a tight 4-3 win at Connecticut College over the weekend. Junior Reid Berrien (Westport, Conn.) put the Panthers on top early with a smash from just inside the scoring circle. But the Camels countered with the next two goals, taking a 2-1 lead at the half. In the second stanza, Middlebury applied heavy pressure on the Camel defense, putting 17 shots on net. With 11:14 to play, Panther junior Marnie Rowe (Harwich, Mass.) put the visitors on top 3-2. After a timeout, Connecticut College countered with a score to tie the game with 8:58 remaining. Just over two minutes later, Berrien buried her second of the afternoon as the Panthers held on for the 4-3 victory. Senior Meghan McGillen (Harwich, Mass.) made eight stops for Middlebury. • Field hockey record: 1-0 • Up next: 9/12 vs. Springfield – 4:00, 9/16 vs. Tufts – 1:00 MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE SPORTS ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB: www.gomidd.com