Box Score
MEDFORD - Facing a Middlebury team that had won five straight matches and moved into fourth place in NESCAC, the Tufts volleyball team produced a dominating three-set victory over the Panthers in a NESCAC match at Cousens Gym on Saturday afternoon.
The Jumbos won by set scores of 25-13, 25-15, and 25-12, improving to 14-3 overall and 6-1 in NESCAC. They have won five straight, losing just one set during the streak. Middlebury falls to 10-5 overall and 3-2 in the league.
Tufts was overpowering offensively with a .252 team hitting percentage and three players with double-digit kills. They were particularly effective in the first set, finishing with 17 kills and a .333 hitting percentage.
First year Hayley Hopper (Carlsbad, CA) was the most on-target for the hosts, recording 11 kills in 24 attempts with just two errors for a .375 mark. Classmate Kelly Brennan (Burr Ridge, IL) had a match-high 12 kills, including seven in the first set. Senior tri-captain Cara Spieler (Santa Barbara, CA) added 10 kills. Junior setter Kendall Lord (LaJolla, CA) was the enabler, assisting on 38 kills in the three sets. She was also a provider, scoring five points on a handful of service aces.
On defense, Jumbo senior tri-captain Audrey Kuan (Los Altos, CA) had 20 digs in the three sets, while Spieler was credited with 14. Kuan dug nine Middlebury attacks each in the first and third sets. Senior tri-captain Lexi Nicholas (San Diego, CA) and Lord each had a solo block and three assists.
The Panthers struggled offensively all match, finishing with 20 kills and 19 errors in 101 attempts (.010). Sophomore Amy Hart (Kenilworth, IL) had the best day for the visitors with five kills and a .100 percentage. Junior Caitlin Barrett (Medfield, MA) was tops defensively for Middlebury with 19 digs.
Tufts plays next at home on Wednesday against Colby-Sawyer starting at 7 pm. Middlebury is at Skidmore on Tuesday.
Match statistics
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