MEDFORD, MA (November 10, 2022) -- The No. 19 Tufts University volleyball squad never trailed Thursday evening in the opening round of the 2022 NCAA Volleyball Tournament, rolling past Johnson & Wales University in three sets in action from Cousens Gymnasium. The Jumbos moved into the NCAA Second Round with scores of 25-18, 25-13 and 25-20, and will play Babson College Friday evening at 7 p.m. in the NCAA Regional semifinals.
The Jumbos (22-5) moved to 8-1 at home this season, while extending its win streak to seven with the win which was powered by a balanced attack. The Jumbos hit .391 for the contest as a squad, led by senior
Jennelle Yarwood who hammered down a match-high 13 kills on 20 attempts. Yarwood was one of four players with six or more kills on the night for the Jumbos, who posted only eight errors all night including only three balls that went out of play.
The defensive play was equally as strong, as Tufts posted a side out percentage of 63 percent or higher in all three sets including a 92 percent sideout clip in the second set. The passing made it east for setters
Maddie Yu and
Zoe Gregory to get the ball to the hitters, and they took advantage in transition hitting .479 as a squad.
In the first set, Tufts took a early edge and extended it through the set as it led by as many as 10 at 18-8 after a service ace from Yu. Johnson & Wales (19-12) tried to battle back into the set, but a kill from
Rileigh Farragher gave the Jumbos the set.
In the second frame everything was going for the hosts, posting a hitting clip of .435 while forcing the Wildcats into .040 attacking. Another key was the serve receive for Tufts, as it was clean on its 12 receptions while adding nine digs. The set was in control the entire way for Tufts, leading by as many as 12 during the stanza.
Johnson & Wales would pressure the Jumbos in the third set, as pulled to within one late in the set at 19-18. Farragher would post a kill to spark a 3-1 mini-run to give the Jumbos some breathing room, and terminations by
Cora Cunningham, Yarwood and
Christine Audette clinched the win for Tufts.
Along with Yarwood, Audette finished with a strong night with 11 kills on 20 swings, adding five digs while Farragher totaled seven kills.
Maya Lightfoot posted six finishes and an assisted block, and middle
Grace Legris chalked up four kills and two blocks.
Gregory tallied 18 assists and five digs, and Yu added 17 helpers and seven digs.
Stephanie Lee had another strong game in the back for Tufts, helping with seven digs. Tufts made just one receiving error on the night in 49 receptions.
The Wildcats were led by Peyton Oliver and her 11 kills and eight digs, while Emily Corbett added nine digs in her final collegiate match. Sarah Miller tallied six terminations, while Masina Tupea also posted six finishes for JWU. Johnson & Wales was the winner of the the Great Northeast Athletic Conference for the seventh straight season in 2022.
On the other side of the bracket, the University of Scranton knocked off St. John Fisher 3-0, while MIT blanked Maine Maritime Academy to form Friday's other Regional semifinal at 4:30 p.m. For interviews and box scores of all matches, click
HERE for the 2022 NCAA Tournament Regional website.
