NEW LONDON, CT - The Tufts University volleyball team rallied from two games down to defeat host Connecticut College in five sets on Friday night in the Jumbos' NESCAC finale. Including Bowdoin's win over Wesleyan tonight, the Jumbos finished second for the 2011 conference season.
Tuftss, who is receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association national poll and is also ranked #4 in New England, overcame the eighth-ranked in New England Camels to improve their record to 22-4 with a 9-1 mark in the NESCAC. The Camels are 17-8 and 6-4 in conference action.
The Camels secured 25-19 and 25-16 wins to vault out to a 2-0 advantage. Tufts responded though, winning the next three games with scores of 25-20, 25-19 and 15-10.
Rookie outside hitter Kelly Brennan (Burr Ridge, IL) buried 17 kills to go along with 15 digs and two block assists for the Jumbos. Classmate Hayley Hopper (Carlsbad, CA) chipped in with 14 kills and four aces for the winning side. Junior setter Kendall Lord (La Jolla, CA) dished out 43 assists for the visitors to go with 18 digs, three block assists and two aces.
Senior Cara Spieler (Santa Barbara, CA) had five kills, five block assists and 15 digs for Tufts, while first-year Izzy Kuhel (Brisbane, CA) finished with eight kills, one solo block and six assists. First year Juliana Goodbar (Berkeley, CA) came off bench in the third set and added five kills with seven important block assists.
Connecticut College senior Amy Newman (Los Angeles, CA) recorded a career-high 32 kills along with four digs and two aces for the hosts. Junior Rachel Schroff (Palos Verdes, CA) contributed with 10 kills and six digs.
Ally Terlizzi (Mount Kisco, NY) posted 18 digs for the Camels while Katie Ketcham (San Francisco, CA) finished with 47 assists for the hosts.
Coach Cora Thompson's Tufts team finishes its regular-season with matches against Stevens and Keene State at Connecticut College tomorrow. The Camels will also play Stevens to finish their regular-season tomorrow.
Match statistics
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Match release courtesy of Connecticut College
