Box Score
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| Junior Maddie Kuppe had a match-high 11 kills for the Jumbos against Trinity |
MEDFORD – Things were back to normal for the Tufts volleyball team on Friday night, as they remained undefeated at home with a 3-0 win over Trinity in the quarterfinals of the NESCAC Tournament at Cousens Gym. The Jumbos advance to the quarterfinals for the ninth time in program history and will await the winner of the match between Bowdoin and Middlebury.
In the first set the Bantams and the Jumbos traded points to open play. It was until later in the set, when the Jumbos recorded six consecutive points, taking a 16-7 lead over the visitors. After a Bantam point on a kill by junior Hunter Drews, the Jumbos recorded nine consecutive points, all behind the serve of junior Carolina Berger to take a 25-8 win in set one.
The Jumbos took an early lead in set two, and would use that momentum to eventually win, 25-15. The Bantams were never able to score more than two consecutive points and the Jumbos used three kills each from junior Maddie Kuppe and senior tri-captain Isabel Kuhel to lead the offense.
The third set was similar to the first two in that the Bantams weren't able to pick up much momentum. The Jumbos earned the straight set win with a 25-12 win in the third set. Kuppe had four kills in the last set, while sophomore Elizabeth Ahrens added three kills of her own in the third set.
Giddens led the offense for the Bantams on the day, finishing with nine kills. Junior Hunter Drews added four of her own in the match. Defensively for the Bantams, Giddens turned in nine digs, and first-year Grace Metry and sophomore Randi Whitman each finished with eight digs. Junior Gina Buzzelli helped pace the offense, finishing with nine assists, and Whitman had four assists of her own.
For the Jumbos, Kuppe had a match-high 11 kills and Ahrens finished with seven. Senior tri-captain Hayley Hopper finished with three kills and eight digs. Junior Kyra Baum added seven digs of her own and classmate Carolina Berger and first-year Alex Garrett had six digs apiece. Berger also finished with three aces for the Jumbos. Baum paced the Jumbo offense, taking care of the setting and fishing with 24 assists. Kuhel was a force at the net, recording four solo blocks and two block assists.
Trinity finishes the season with a 13-11 mark this season. With the win the Jumbos move to 20-7 on the year and move on to the semifinals of NESCAC tournament play. They will take on the winner of the match between fourth seeded Middlebury and fifth seeded Bowdoin.
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