Volleyball Opens Tufts Invitational With Three-Set Win Over Illinois Tech

MEDFORD – Juniors Jennelle Yarwood (pictured) and Maya Lightfoot combined for 21 kills as the Jumbo volleyball team started the Tufts Invitational strong with a three-set win over Illinois Tech on Friday night at Cousens Gym. The scores were 25-14, 25-13, 25-19.

Yarwood only made one error while recording 11 kills on 19 attempts for a .526 hitting mark. Lightfoot finished with 10 kills and three errors on 19 attempts (.368). Senior Cate Dessler was effective as well with a .389 hitting night (8-1-18). The Jumbos finished at .299 overall with 39 kills and 13 errors on 87 swings.

Tufts (2-0) was big at the net defensively as well with nine blocks. Jennifer Ryan was in on five while Grace Legris and Lightfoot were in on four each. Desler led the Jumbos with 12 digs.

For Illinios Tech (1-3), Briar Moore and Sara Hassell finished with four kills apiece. Kelsey Starnes recorded eight digs, while Grace Reckamp and Jessica Weaver both had two block assists. Ellie Leach added seven digs.

After a good start by the Scarlet Knights saw them take three of the first four points in the first set, the Jumbos rallied to an 11-6 advantage forcing an Illinois Tech time-out. Legris later hammered home a kill making it 19-13 and Lightfoot added another for a 22-14 score, helping Tufts take a 1-0 advantage in the match.

Desler and Maddie Yu served Tufts to an 8-1 lead in the second set. Illinois Tech rebounded and pulled within 11-8 on a kill by Sara Hassell. At 13-10, the Jumbos scored four of the next five to lead 17-11 on Yarwood's kill. Tufts then rode Ariel Zedric's serve to finish strong and go up 2-0.

With Yu at the service line, the Jumbos took an 8-0 lead to start the third set. The margin expanded to 15-5 on a Tufts kill from Rileigh Farragher. The Scarlet Knights showed fight and came back to within 19-15 on Moore's ace. However, Tufts would take six of the last eight to clinch the three-set sweep.

Cousens will be the site for four matches of the Tufts Invitational on Saturday. The Jumbos play Bandeis at 10 am and Wellesley at 5:30 pm.