Box Score
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| Kyra Baum was one of four seniors honored before the game. |
MEDFORD – Senior day in Cousens Gym was a good day as the Tufts volleyball team picked up a straight set win over NESCAC rival Trinity on Saturday afternoon. The Jumbos honored seniors Maddie Kuppe, Carolina Berger, Esme Nulan and Kyra Baum before the match.
With the 3-0 win (25-22, 25-16, 25-16) the Jumbos are now 15-4 overall and 6-2 in NESCAC games. The Bantams move to 7-10 overall this season, and 1-7 in NESCAC contests.
The first set was a hard fought one as both teams exchanged points early. The set was tied at eight and then again eleven before the Jumbos took a lead, leading by as much as four. But the Bantams wouldn't go away, and fought back. The Jumbos were leading 24-18 but the Bantams used a couple of Jumbo errors and kills by Kate Giddens and Hunter Drew to come within two, 24-22. The Jumbos finished off the set with a kill from Kuppe to take the 25-22 win in set one.
Things started close in the second set as well as neither team was really able to gain a lead on the other early. However, after the set was tied at six the Jumbos jumped out to a sizable lead, 16-8. Again, the Bantams would not give up and put together a few points to get back in the match a bit. With the Jumbos leading 24-16, Kuppe once again delivered a kill that gave the Jumbos the 25-16 win.
The third set was the opposite of the first two. The Jumbos jumped out to an early 7-1 lead and were able to maintain that lead for the duration of the match. The Bantams came within three, trailing, 10-7, but the Jumbos hit their stride and were able to string some points together to win the set 25-16.
Kuppe finished as the kill leader for the Jumbos with 13, and added 12 digs to her day. Sophomore Katie Kim added six kills while junior Elizabeth Ahrens finished with four. Running the offense for the Jumbos was Baum and rookie Angela Yu. Baum finished with nine assists, while Yu finished with 14.
Defensively, Berger turned in 13 digs while sophomore Alex Garrett added 10 on the day. Sophomore Anique Barch and Ahrens both finished with a solo block and three block assists. Junior McKenzie Humann and Kim each added three block assists.
For the visitors, it was Giddens who finished with nine kills as Hannah Engstrom, Hunter Drews and Claudia Varner all each added three. Giddens finished with 13 digs, while Shelby Deck and Gina Buzzelli added eight digs each. Varner added two block assists. Deck and Buzzelli split the setting duties, finishing with eight and six assists, respectively.
The Bantams play again on Friday when they play in the Hall of Fame Invitational, starting on Friday with Westfield State at 7:30 pm at Smith. The Jumbos will be back in action on Friday as well when they start play in the New England Challenge. They will host Wellesley on Friday with a 7 pm start.
Match Photos by Alonso Nichols / Tufts
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