SPRINGFIELD - In the fourth match of the day, and certainly the most anticipated match of the day, host and #5-seeded Springfield College defeated #4 seeded Tufts, 3-0, in the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Regional on Friday. Game scores were 25-14, 25-19, 25-20.
With the win, Springfield is now 30-4 overall, while the Jumbos end their season at 22-11.
Saturday's semifinals are thus set for Blake Arena. In match #1, it will be #2-seeded UMass-Boston vs. #3-seeded Middlebury College at 3:30 pm. In match #2, it will be #1-seeded Amherst vs. #5-seeded Springfield at 6 pm.
Springfield's Sarah Lang-Rodean, who was named the NEWMAC Player of the Year earlier this week, finished with a team-high 11 kills and a .500 hitting percentage. Lauren Torvi ended with 10 kills and a .364 hiting percentage. Kelsea Hellyar had 30 assists and 11 digs. Tessa Smolinski also had 11digs.
In the final match of her collegiate career, Jumbo senior Caitlin Updike (Manhattan Beach, CA) finished with 14 kills. The only Tufts player in double figures for kills, Updike also had two of the team's four service aces. On the defensive side, junior Cara Spieler (Santa Barbara, CA) had 17 kills and classmate Audrey Kuan (Los Altos, CA) followed with 16. Sophomore Kiersten Ellefsen (Goshen, NY) was in on two blocks.
This was the third consecutive NCAA Tournament apperance for Tufts.
Match Statistics
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Match release courtesy of Springfield College
