Box Score MEDFORD – The Tufts volleyball team finished off a perfect NESCAC weekend with a 3-0 win over Colby on Saturday afternoon in Cousesns Gym. Junior Mackenzie Bright finished with 18 kills and sophomores Brigid Bell and Maddie Stewart added eight kills each.
With the win the Jumbos improve to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in NESCAC play. Colby falls to 1-5 overall this season with a 0-2 mark in NESCAC contests.
The Jumbos jumped out to an early lead in the first set and cruised to a 25-13 win in that set. They finished the set with a .484 hitting percentage and Bright and Bell both turned in four kills each in the set. Paige Hanssen kept Colby in it with five kills of her own.
The second set was similar as the Jumbos took an early lead and were able to hold on to that lead for the duration of the second set. Sophomore Heather Holz was big for the Jumbos in the second set, turning in five kills and a block and Bright added five more kills to her day in the set.
The two teams battled in the third set and things were close for a good part of the set. With things tied at 11 the Jumbos scored four points behind the serve of junior Katie Zheng to take the 15-11 lead. They would hold on to that lead for the remainder of the set and finished with the 25-17 win.
Hanssen finished with 12 kills for Colby to lead the Mules' offensive efforts. Defensively Erin Maidman finished with ten digs and Hanssen added seven. Emily Moslener took care of the setting, finishing with 16 assists.
For the Jumbos Bright finished her day with 13 kills and Stewart and Bell both added eight. The Jumbos finished with a .402 hitting percentage on the day. Sophomore Madison Clay finished with ten digs and Zheng added eight. Sophomore Christina Nwanpka was big at the net for the Jumbos adding three blocks and three kills. Sophomore Rachel Furash took care of most of the setting, finishing her day with 29 assists.
The Mules play again Friday when they host Bates for a 7 pm start. Tufts will take the court again on Tuesday, when they travel up to Bowdoin for a 7 pm start.
