MEDFORD, MA (November 20, 2024) -- The New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) office announced its 2024 volleyball awards on Wednesday morning, and Tufts sophomores
Claire Castor and
Emma Heckman were selected to the All-NESCAC Second Team for their play this season.
The sophomores helped the Tufts volleyball team to a 7-3 record within the NESCAC this season, as Heckman led the team with 235 kills from her right side position. Heckman averaged 2.70 kills per set, best on the team, while hitting .231 for the season. Heckman also added 69 blocks during the year, second-most on the team, while posting 72 digs as well. She had 15 matches with 10 or more kills, including a season-high 14 terminations against Middlebury College on October 5. Heckman also recorded 12 kills against ranked Christopher Newport, and then added 13 finishes against Wesleyan on November 1. The season award was the first in her career.
Castor had a strong season for Tufts, playing a variety of positions throughout the year. Castor played mostly outside, where she totaled 188 kills to go with a team-high 41 service aces on the year. Castor ranked 19th in the NESCAC in kills per set with 2.24, while her 0.49 aces a game was sixth-best in the league. Castor also added 20 blocks during the season, and was fourth on the team in total digs with 186. Castor had eight matches with double-digit kills, while adding five double-doubles on the year. She finished with a season-high 20 kills against Hamilton on September 20, while also tallying 14 in a five-set win over Trinity. It was Castor's first career All-NESCAC award.
The Middlebury duo of Molly Harrison and Annabella Rando were selected as the NESCAC Player and Defensive Player of the Year, respectively. Bowdoin's Alison Smith was named the NESCAC Rookie of the Year and the Colby staff was voted as the NESCAC Coaching Staff of the Year by their peers.
Tufts finished the season 13-11 overall, going 7-3 in the NESCAC.
--JUMBOS--
