MEDFORD, MA (September 21, 2024) - The Tufts University volleyball team beat Amherst College in straight sets in a NESCAC match on Saturday afternoon in Cousens Gymnasium. The Jumbos (5-5) swept the visiting Mammoths (8-2) 25-22, 25-16 and 25-14.
Leading the way for the Jumbos offensively was sophomore
Emma Heckman and graduate student
Christine Audette, as each finished with 10 kills. Heckman would also add two and a half blocks in the contest, while Audette would contribute a pair of aces and nine digs. The 10 kills for Audette would set a new season high for the outside hitter, surpassing her previous high of eight, which came most recently against Calvin on Sept. 14.
Dishing it out to the two offensive leaders was sophomore setter
Rianna Liu. Over the three sets she would assist 20 Jumbos hitters, adding an ace and eight digs to round out a solid performance. Also setting well was freshman
Ellery Clark, who set up 17 assists in her collegiate debut. The debutante added five digs to solidify a victorious first college volleyball match.
On the defensive side of the court, freshman libero
Dylan Whisenant made 11 digs, followed closely behind by sophomore
Claire Castor with 10. For Castor it was her second best mark in digs on the season. She would add nine kills onto her scoresheet for the day, doing so efficiently on a .304 hitting percentage. Freshman
Matsa Shi would earn seven digs in the match, tying her second highest mark on the season.
Freshman
Maiwenn Kamdje was efficient at the net as well, hitting for a team-high .400 hitting percentage with six kills and adding two block assists as well. Junior middle
Julia Griffiths was also very strong at the net making a team-high five block assists and hitting for .231 while downing six kills.
Joining Audette as an upper class contributor was senior middle
Alina Qi. Qi would hit three kills while adding three block assists.
As a team, the Jumbos hit for .223, or .05 above their season average. Their 16 total block assists sets a new second-best mark on the season. 44 kills on 112 attempts was enough to hand the Mammoths just their second loss of the season.
The Jumbos will return to the floor on Friday, September 27 for an away match at Bates starting at 7:00 PM
--JUMBOS--
