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First year Isabel Kuhel was a leading contributor offensively and defensively
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MEDFORD - First year Izzy Kuhel (Brisbane, CA) finished with nine kills and was in on 10 blocks as the Tufts volleyball team earned a hard-fought, four-set win over Wellesley College in a non-league match at Cousens Gym on Wednesday night.
Tufts (12-3) won its third match in a row with set scores of 28-26, 25-23, 22-25, and 25-23. Wellesley saw a four-match winning streak end as they dropped to 10-6 overall.
A back-and-forth first set saw Tufts take an early 9-4 lead behind the service of first year Hayley Hopper (Carlsbad, CA). Wellesley battled back to tie the score at 16-16 with sophomore Julia Adams (South Pasadena, CA) at the service line. No more than two points separated the teams for the rest of the set, but Tufts was able to record the 28-26 victory on a Wellesley attack error. First year Kelly Brennan (Burr Ridge, IL) led Tufts with five kills in the set.
After the Jumbos again jumped out early in the second set, it turned into another tight affair that was tied 23-23 late. Kills by senior tri-captain Lexi Nicholas (San Diego, CA) and Brennan scored the final two points for the Jumbos. Adams had five kills for Wellesley in the set.
The Jumbos scored the first five points of the third set, but Wellesley would rally to take a 19-18 lead. Three straight points for the Blue gave them a 23-20 cushion, with kills by first year Sydney Carfagno (Los Angeles, CA) and Adams. Wellesley finished off the set with kills by tri-captains Isabel Custodio (Powell, OH) and Amanda Duritsch (Troy, OH). Carfagno and Adams both had four kills and seven digs in the set.
The fourth set was another close encounter that was tied 23-23 before kills by Jumbo senior tri-captain Cara Spieler (Santa Barbara, CA) and a Wellesley attack error gave the hosts a 25-23 set victory and the match. Tufts had good balance on attack in the decisive set, with Spieler, Kuhel, Hopper and Brennan putting down three kills apiece.
Brennan led Tufts with 12 kills, while Spieler added nine to go with two aces. The Jumbos had three players in double digits for digs, led by senior tri-captain Audrey Kuan (Los Altos, CA) with 17. Tufts had a good game blocking, with Hopper elevating for a solo and four assists to go with Kuhel's solo and nine assists.
Carfagno and Adams both finished with a match-high 13 kills for Wellesley. Custodio was effective at setter for the Blue, registering 46 assists in the four sets. Carfagno served three aces, while Adams was also a leader defensively with 20 digs. Duritsch finished with four block assists.
Tufts hosts NESCAC action at Cousens this weekend. The Jumbos start with Amherst on Friday at 6 pm. Wellesley hosts the annual Seven Sisters Championship on Saturday and Sunday.
Match statistics
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