Box Score 
SPRINGFIELD - The host Springfield College Pride won two of the first three sets by very close scores and then clinched the match in the fourth to earn a victory over Tufts in a meeting of two of the top college volleyball teams in New England on Thursday night.
In this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, Tufts was at #25 and Springfield was also receiving votes. The Pride clipped the Jumbos 25-23 in the first set before a 26-24 Jumbo victory evened the match. Springfield then went extra for a 26-24 win in the third before rolling to a 25-13 fourth-set victory.
Springfield remained undefeated at 11-0 while Tufts dropped to 6-2 overall.
Three straight points by the Jumbos finished by a Maddie Yu service ace had closed Tufts within 23-22 in the first set. However, a Jumbo attack error and a kill by Springfield's Kylie Wixted won the set for the hosts. Set two was 23-23 before a pair of Jumbo service aces by Grace Legris and Yu tied things up at 1-1 for the visitors.
Tufts led the third set 11-5 early, but the hosts battled back to tie the match 14-14 on a kill by Camryn Bancroft. The score was tied at 24-24 before a Tufts service error and another Bancroft kill won it for the Pride. Springfield locked down the victory by building a 15-6 lead in the fourth set and never being threatened by the Jumbos.
Jennifer Ryan (pictured) was on tonight for Tufts, recording 13 kills with just three errors on 27 swings for a .370 percentage. She also recorded three block assists. Cate Desler posted 14's in kills and digs for a double-double. Stephanie Lee (15 digs) and Yu (14 digs) were also key contributors defensively. Cora Cunningham had two solo blocks and two assisted.
Bancroft excelled for Springfield with 16 kills and just three errors on 31 attempts (.419). Natalie Billet also had 16 kills and served four aces. Sara Labardorf averaged better than 10 assists per set with 42 total, while Claire Dorr was strong defensively with 25 digs. Wixted was credited with five block assists.
Tufts travels to Bowdoin for a conference match with the Polar Bears and a non-league tilt against Maine Maritime on Saturday. The Pride will look to continue their unbeaten start to the season at Emerson on Saturday.
