Box Score 
MEDFORD - The Tufts University volleyball team rolled to a three-set victory against Connecticut in the 2021 NESCAC opener on Friday night at Cousens Gym. Set scores were 25-16, 25-18 and 25-10. The victory is the 400th of Jumbo head coach Cora Thompson's careeer.
Senior Cate Desler led Tufts offensively with 12 kills, while classmate Jennifer Ryan added nine. The Jumbos hit .280 for the night, recording 40 kills with 12 errors on 100 attempts. Ariel Zedric's (pictured) 22 assists and five service aces by Jennelle Yarwood aided the Jumbo attack.
On defense Tufts held the Camels to a .011 hitting percentage (19 kills-18 errors-92 attempts). Stephanie Lee with 16 digs and Desler with 13 for her own double-double led the Jumbos. Tufts finished with eight blocks, with Ryan's four assists leading the way.
Christina Leduc and Katherine Randall had five kills each to pace the visitors. Julia Dailey recorded 12 digs.
Tufts scored the first six points of the match and led 6-0 on a kill by Ryan. The Camels battled back to within 11-10 on a kill by Katie Gunderman. However, the Jumbos were able to hold them off and win the first set as Tori Goldin had three kills in the second half of the set.
Connecticut College led set two 8-7 after a Tufts attack error. However, Tufts got the next three points on a pair of kills by Desler surrounded by a Yarwood ace. The Jumbos would pull away with three kills by Desler and two from Ryan - including the set-clincher.
The Jumbos dominated the third set, hitting .550 with 13 kills and two errors on 20 swings. They charged to a 12-4 advantage on Desler's kill, then later led 22-8 following a remarkable four straight aces served by Yarwood. Tufts (6-0, 1-0 NESCAC) clinched the match soon after that.
After having four matches postponed to start the year, Connecticut College was playing its season-opener tonight.
