MEDFORD, Mass. (October 8, 2022) — The #24 ranked Tufts University volleyball team (10-4, 5-1 NESCAC) swept Bates College (4-9, 0-6 NESCAC) but lost in a 5 set battle to #14 Hope College (15-4, 3-1 MIAA) on a doubleheader Saturday afternoon. They breezed by Bates in the first match by scores of 25-10, 25-18, and 25-11. However, in what was the second match of the day for both teams, Tufts couldn't complete the comeback in their early 2-0 set deficit, losing 3-2 (21-25, 20-25, 25-21, 25-21, 11-15).
Match 1: No. 24 Tufts 3, Bates 0
The Jumbos came out firing early on in the first set, as they would go on to control the pace of the match throughout. The teams exchanged points early in the set, as the Bobcats kept within range of the Jumbos, 12-8. However, the Jumbos then went on a roll, going on a 13-2 run to close out the game. Jenelle Yarwood led the way for the Jumbos, as she had six kills in the set, including the set point.
Maddie Yu also had 10 assists in the game to lead Tufts to a first set victory.
In the second set, the Bobcats showed their toughness, as they held a 9-8 lead over the Jumbos early on. Eventually, Tufts got some fire under them and regained the lead, but the set remained close throughout. The Jumbos led by four, 22-18, narrowly clinging on to the lead in the set, and were able to close it out with three consecutive points, two of which came from kills by
Grace Legris and
Tori Goldin.
In the third and final set, it was all Jumbos. After just a 6-5 lead at the beginning of the set, the Jumbos went on a 19-6 run to close out the match.
Megan Harrison had three aces in the set, and Jenelle Yarwood had another six kills to seal it.
Yarwood ended the match with a total of 14 kills on 20 attempts.
Maya Lightfoot and
Grace Legris each had seven kills, with Lightfoot having 14 attempts and Legris 17.
Maddie Yu led Tufts with 23 assists, while
Zoe Gregory also contributed 13. The Jumbos hit .306 (44-14-98) as opposed to the Bobcats' .012 (18-17-84).
Match 2: No. 14 Hope 3, No. 24 Tufts 2
The first set of the match saw the Dutchwomen out battle the Jumbos, 25-21. The Jumbos jumped out to an early 6-3 lead, but the Dutchwomen battled and eventually took hold, despite the constant back-and-forth throughout. Alison DeWeerd led the way with her four kills in the set, and Annie Lockett followed suit with three of her own.
Grace Legris led Tufts in the set with three kills.
The second set saw a similar course, as Annie Lockett and DeWeerd again paved the way for a Dutchwomen set win. Neither team really went on a tremendous run in the set, but Hope was able to outplay Tufts throughout, playing at a cleaner and higher level than the Jumbos. Lockett had six kills in the set, and DeWeerd again had four. For Tufts,
Grace Legris and Jenelle Yarwood led the way, each with four kills.
In the third set, the Jumbos began their rally back. The Jumbos were able to take the set by a score of 25-21, a reversal of the first set. The set was once again a back and forth battle, but a 5-1 close to the set was enough for Tufts to earn their first set victory of the match.
Cora Cunningham had three kills, propelling the way for a series of points along the way for the Jumbos, including the set point.
The fourth set once again saw Tufts prevail by a score of 25-21, evening the match score at 2-2. Riley Farragher,
Grace Legris and
Maya Lightfoot led the way for the Jumbos. A 6-2 run to close the set was what got the job done for the Jumbos, allowing them to force their way to a fifth set against the number 14 team in the nation.
The fifth set was a first to 15 point battle. The Dutchwomen got out to a 7-4 set early, but as was the case throughout the match, the Jumbos rallied, evening the score up at 7 thanks to a kill by
Christine Audette and back-to-back aces from
Cora Cunningham. However, the Dutchwomen then went on a five point run, regaining a 12-7 lead that proved to be insurmountable for the Jumbos.
Annie Lockett led the way in the Hope victory with 23 kills and 25.5 points. Riley Farragher (14 kills) and
Grace Legris (13 kills, 15 pts) led the Jumbos in the match to a near comeback in an exciting late rally. Tufts hit .214 in the match, and Hope hit .282. The Dutchwomen are back in action Wednesday at 6:30 pm at Trine, and the Jumbos will play again in Cousens Gymnasium on Tuesday evening at 6 pm.
