Box Score HOBOKEN, N.J. - Junior Aishvina Arus totaled 24 kills to lead 15th-ranked Clarkson University to a four-set victory over Tufts in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Stevens Institute of Technology's Canavan Arena today.
Watch Tufts Post-Match Interview
Watch Clarkson Post-Match Interview
The Golden Knights (36-3) advance to tomorrow's Regional final, where they will play either the host Ducks or Roger Williams at 3 pm.
Tufts saw its season end with a 22-9 record. Head coach Cora Thompson's Jumbos, who were making their seventh NCAA appearance, were led by 12 kills from junior Maddie Kuppe.
Clarkson built a 2-0 lead with 25-15 and 25-20 wins in the first two sets before Tufts avoided a shutout with a 25-22 victory in the third set. However, the Golden Knights posted a 25-22 fourth-set advantage to win the match.
The Jumbos led set one early before six straight points by Clarkson put them ahead 7-4 on a kill by Arasu. The Golden Knights would keep the Jumbos at an arm's length before pulling away for the 10-point victory. Arasu had six kills and Evanne Jimenez recorded seven digs in the set for Clarkson.
The teams were tied 10-10 in the second set before back-to-back Jumbo errors gave Clarkson the advantage for good. The Jumbos were within 16-15 following a service ace from senior tri-captain Isabel Kuhel, but the Golden Knights never relinquished the lead. Tufts had its best hitting set of the match at .269 (8-1-26), but five kills from Arasu and six digs by Kirstie Shurie helped put Clarkson up by two.
With the third set tied at 22-22, a kill and a block by Kuhel helped keep Tufts alive with a 25-22 win. She posted five kills and four blocks (three assists) in the set.
Arusu's seven kills in the fourth set helped Clarkson clinch it. Jimenenz was also remarkable defensively with 11 digs in the fourth. Tufts fought valiantly and was tied 19-19 when Mary Maccabee and Elizabeth Ahrens shared a block. However, the Jumbos couldn't get over the hump and the Golden Knights scored match point on a kill by Arasu.
Victoria Kirkemo added 11 kills to the win for Clarkson, while Shurie compiled 46 assists in four sets. Kirkemo and Hannah Jones both served three of the Golden Knights' 11 total aces. Jimenez finished with a match-high 22 digs and Shurie complemented with 15.
The Jumbos finished the match with 12 blocks, including six assists by Ahrens and a solo with five assists from Kuhel. Junior Carolina Berger had 19 digs to lead that category for Tufts.
This was the second time this season that the teams met. Clarkson defeated Tufts 3-0 on the first day of the season (September 5) at the Colorado College Classic.
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