Box Score
MEDFORD - Tufts handed Western New England University its first loss of the season with a 3-1 win Wednesday night at Cousens Gym.
The Golden Bears came into the match with a school-record 10-1 start. They also had only lost two sets all season.
WNE took the first set 25-22, but the Jumbos came roaring back and won the next three, 25-19, 25-13 and 25-21 to improve to 7-3.
With the Golden Bears up 12-6 in the second set, Hayley Hopper (Carlsbad, CA) started the
comeback as she served nine straight points, there of them on service aces. Elizabeth Ahrens (Richmond, VA) added three kills in the run.
In the third set the teams were tied eight times, the last at 10-10. Hopper started a 4-0 run, which Tufts the lead for good, with a kill and Kyra Baum (Boca Raton, FL) finished it with an ace.
In the fourth set the Jumbos took the lead at 2-1 and hold it through the end. The Golden Bears closed to within two at 22-20, but kills by Hopper and Mary Maccabee (River Edge, NJ) and a match-winning ace by Virginia Clay (Santa Clara, CA) closed out the match.
WNE was lead by Maureen Pollet and Devyn Frank with nine kills each. Reading's Kasey Cameron added seven kills and 12 digs.
Maccabee lead the Jumbos with 11 kills. Hopper added nine kills, four aces and 11 digs. Jessica Ingrum (Highlands Ranch, CO) had eight kills. First year Ahrens had six kills and five blocks. Baum finished with 28 assists, three kills and 12 digs.
The Jumbso begin NESCAC play Friday night when they host Trinity in an 8:00 p.m. contest at Cousens Gym.
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