Waterville, ME. -  In a thrilling NESCAC Championship match, Middlebury (16-10, 7-3) edged out Colby (24-3, 10-0) in a tightly contested five-set battle, with final scores of 14-25, 25-16, 25-22, 16-25, 16-14. Both teams showcased their resilience and skill throughout the match. Middlebury's victory crowned them NESCAC champions, while Colby secured the runner-up title after an exceptional season. The Mules delivered an impressive performance, recording 63 kills, 10 aces, 59 assists, and 104 digs, compared to Middlebury's 46 kills, 5 aces, 44 assists, and 92 digs. Colby also maintained a hitting efficiency of .150, outpacing the Panthers, who managed a .120 efficiency in the intense five-set showdown.

Colby dominated the opening set with aggressive offense and strong defense. Early kills from LJ Grant and a service ace by Jordan Lee helped the Mules build a 10-4 lead. Middlebury struggled to counter as Colby's blocks, led by Sydney Bopp and Sarah Friedrichs, extended the margin. A late kill from Cyanne Jones sealed the set for the Mules, 25-14, showcasing their dominance. The Panthers rebounded strongly in the second set, opening with a 7-3 lead thanks to a service ace. Despite kills from Jones and Brady Moseley, the Panthers maintained momentum. As Middlebury capitalized on Colby's errors, they edged out the set, closing it 25-16. The third set was a tightly contested battle, with both teams showcasing resilience and strategic plays. The Panthers gained an early edge, capitalizing on Colby's attack errors and maintaining consistent offensive pressure. The Mules fought back with impressive kills from Jones, Moseley, and Grant, narrowing the gap and briefly taking the lead at 15-14. Despite Colby's late rally and some back-and-forth, Middlebury sealed the set at 25-22. In the fourth set, the Panthers started strong with two early kills, but Colby quickly responded with a series of attacks and a block to tie the score at 2-2. Colby built a steady lead, and despite a Middlebury timeout, they continued to dominate. The Panthers briefly pushed back with a kill, but Colby maintained its lead, reaching match point at 24-16 after Lee delivered a service ace. The final point came with a Moseley kill, securing Colby's victory in the set and forcing a final 5th set. In the decisive fifth set, Colby took the first point with a kill from Bopp and gained a slight lead with a service ace and kills, putting them ahead 6-4. After a timeout, Middlebury tied the score at 6-6, but Colby regained the lead with another kill from Grant and a block error from the Panthers. Middlebury fought back and tied the score again at 9-9. After more back-and-forth, Colby gained a 12-10 lead. The Panthers pushed back, tying it once more at 14-14, and despite the Mules' efforts and a heated final point, Middlebury sealed the victory at 16-14.

The boxscore was led by Moseley with an impressive 21 kills, followed by Grant with 12 and Bopp with eight. Grant also contributed four aces, while Lee added three, and Bopp had one. On the defensive side, Bopp led with six blocks, supported by Friedrichs with four blocks and Jones with three. Gabby Grujic led the assists with 32, while Lee chipped in with 18 and Reese Loyd six. Grujic also led in digs with 26, followed by Grant with 21 and Loyd with 19.

While the Mules' impressive run in the NESCAC comes to an end here, Colby Volleyball will now turn their attention to the upcoming NCAA selection show on Monday at 1:00 PM to find out where they will play next. The team will be awaiting the announcement with anticipation as they look to continue their strong season.