MEDFORD, MA (October 11, 2022) -- Led by 11 kills from junior
Tori Goldin, the Tufts University volleyball team earned a three-set sweep of Bowdoin College Tuesday evening in non-conference action from Cousens Gymnasium.
The Jumbos (11-4) were looking to shake off a five-set loss to No. 14 Hope College on Saturday, and Tufts did just that with scores of 25-21, 25-23 and 25-17. The hosts hit well on the night to the tune of .224 (44-18-116) while adding 10 blocks as a squad. The Jumbos trailed for just five points all match, all coming in the first set as Bowdoin (8-7) took an early 4-1 lead after an attacking error by the Jumbos.
Tufts rallied back with the set's next seven points, highlighted by three kills and a block by senior
Grace Legris to take an 8-4 edge. The Jumbos held a steady lead for the remainder of the set but the Polar Bears rallied to tie the period at 21 on a kill by Lauren Lange. Tufts would respond though with a 4-0 run to close out the set, as
Maya Lightfoot posted back-to-back terminations to clinch the game.
In the second game, neither team could get the offense going as the teams combined for nine blocks in the second stanza. The big run though for the Jumbos came with the score 9-8 in their favor, rattling off a 7-2 run to take control of the period. Bowdoin once again didn't go away as it pulled to within one at 24-23 but an attack error would give the set to the hosts.
In the third set senior Jannelle Yarwood took the reins offensively, as she provided five kills on seven attempts as part of 16 terminations in the third set. The Jumbos hit .469 for the stanza, registering just one attack error while forcing the Polar Bears into eight in closing out the match. In addition to Tufts' solid hitting numbers on Tuesday night, the Jumbos also registered a hitting clip of .260 on first-ball attacks. Additionally, the transition defense was very good for the hosts as it held Bowdoin to a .081 hitting percentage on first transition attacks.
Goldin posted her 11 terminations on 28 swings, hitting .357 for the match, while Legris finished with eight kills and six total blocks. Lightfoot posted six terminations and four blocks while
Rileigh Farragher also chalked up five kills and four blocks.
Maddie Yu posted her eighth double-double of the year with 21 assists and 10 digs, adding two aces, and
Zoe Gregory also finished with 13 helpers. Libero
Stephanie Lee also posted a team-high 10 digs. In all, nine players finished with at least one kill for the Jumbos.
Jaida Hodge-Adams was the leading hitter for the Polar Bears with nine kills, while Lange and Jenna Robbins each had seven terminations in defeat. These two teams will meet again this season in New England Small Conference Athletic Conference (NESCAC) play on Saturday, October 29 in Brunswick, ME.
The Jumbos will return to action Friday evening at 7 p.m., taking on the Ephs of Williams College in Williamstown, MA. Bowdoin will host Trinity College in NESCAC play Friday at 7 p.m.
--JUMBOS--
