Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
WALTHAM - The Tufts volleyball team split a pair of matches at the Brandeis Invitational on Saturday afternoon, moving their record to 3-1 early in the 2012 season. After falling in four to undefeated Wellesley first, the Jumbos rallied for a five-set win over Babson in the second match.
Tufts was tied with Wellesley (5-0) 1-1 through two sets, but the Blue ran off 25-17 and 25-21 victories to take the match. The Jumbos were down 2-1 against Babson (4-2), but came back with a 25-18 fourth-set win and took the victory 15-10 in the fifth.
Against Wellesley, senior tri-captain Kendall Lord (LaJolla, CA) finished with 32 assists, seven digs, and two block assists. Classmate and fellow tri-captain Kiersten Ellefsen (Goshen, NY) recorded 10 kills, while sophomore Hayley Hopper (Carlsbad, CA) swung for 12 kills. Sophomore Isabel Kuhel (Brisbane, CA) had nine kills offensively and two block assists on defense. Classmate Juliana Goodbar (Berkeley, CA) finished with five kills, a solo block and a block assist. Sophomore Kelly Brennan (Burr Ridge, IL) contributed defensively with 10 digs and 19 passes without an error. Junior Virginia Clay (Santa Clara, CA) recorded a team-high 13 digs.
In the Babson match, Lord accumulated 37 assists, three service aces, 16 digs and three block assists. The Jumbo blocking game was better against the Beavers, with Ellefsen going up for a solo and four block assists. Kuhel had an excellent blocking match, making two solos and five assists to go with eight kills. Brennan completed the match with 14 kills, 12 passes with no errors, and five digs. Hopper had nine kills and one block assist, while Goodbar totaled five kills and three aces (only one serving error all weekend) with six block assists. Clay played libero and had 18 digs, while first-year Jessica InHighlands Ranch, CO) finished with five kills, three digs, one solo block and two assists in just three sets. Her play in the fifth set helped Tufts secure the match.
Coach Cora Thompson's Jumbos return to action next Friday night with their home and NESCAC opener against Trinity at Cousens Gym. Action begins at 8 pm.
Wellesley match statistics
Babson match statistics
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