Box Score
MEDFORD – The Tufts volleyball team got on a roll on Friday night at Cousens Gym, and they picked up right where they left off Saturday afternoon, winning three hard fought sets to beat NESCAC rival Amherst, 3-0. With the win the Jumbos claim sole possession of first place in the NESCAC, with two conference matches remaining.
The Jumbos traded points with the Lord Jeffs to start the first set, but then earned six consecutive points with senior tri-captain Hayley Hopper serving to take an 8-2 lead. The Jumbos never let their lead get smaller than five and moved to a 25-13 win in the opening set.
The second set was a bit different. Amherst jumped out to the early lead and maintained that lead for the beginning of the second set, at one point leading 17-12. The Jumbos got back in the game with seven consecutive points, once again with Hopper serving, moving to a 19-17 lead before Amherst scored a point. The set would be tied at 19, 20, 24, 27 and 28 before Tufts earned the 30-28 win.
The third set was equally as close with both teams trading leads and no team leading by more than three points. With the score tied at 20, Amherst went ahead 21-20 with a kill from junior Lizzy Ahern. The Jumbos then gained a 23-21 lead, and moved on to win 25-22 win.
The Jumbos were led offensively by Hopper, fellow senior and tri-captain Isabel Kuhel and junior Maddie Kuppe. Hopper finished with 15 kills and eight digs. Kuhel had 13 kills in 18 attempts with no errors for an outstanding .722 hitting percentage. Kuppe finished with 13 kills and nine digs on the day. Junior Carolina Berger anchored the Jumbo defense with 12 digs. Classmate Kyra Baum finished with 42 assists.
For the Lord Jeffs, sophomore Maggie Danner was the leader with eight kills. Sophomore Nicole Gould and first-years Marialexa Natsis and Jennifer Mackinnon Krems all had five kills apiece. Junior Katie Warshaw finished with 14 digs, while classmate Nicole Carter had 11 digs and 20 assists.
The Jumbos are now in first place in the NESCAC. Both Tufts and Williams own 7-1 conference records, but the Jumbos beat the Ephs on Friday night, 3-1. Still up on the conference schedule for the Jumbos is Middlebury and Hamilton. Williams still has to play Colby and Bowdoin. Should the Jumbos maintain a hold on first place, they will host the conference tournament, November 7 through 9.
Amherst is now 16-5 overall with a 6-2 NESCAC mark. The Jumbos move to 13-7 with a 7-1 conference record. Amherst beat Endicott following their match with Tufts, 3-0. Tufts took on Endicott after that match. Both teams will be back in action next weekend playing in the Hall of Fame Invitational.
Match Photos by Alonso Nichols / Tufts
#
