MEDFORD, MA (November 19, 2025) -- The Tufts University volleyball team, winner's of its last six matches including three in the 2025 New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Tournament to pick up its fourth conference crown, will play host to seven other teams in Cousens Gymnasium for the 2025 NCAA Tournament Regionals. Tufts will battle Bridgewater State University on Thursday at 7 p.m., with three matches prior to the Jumbos' tilt taking place including hosting the No. 1 team in the nation in East Texas Baptist University at 2 p.m.
Game Details
Tournament Schedule:
NCAA Regional Tournament Page
Thursday, November 20, 2025
11:30 a.m. - No. 4 seed Emory University vs. No. 5 seed Springfield College
2:00 p.m. - No. 1 seed East Texas Baptist vs. No. 8 seed Maine Maritime Academy
4:30 p.m. - No. 3 seed Kean University vs. No. 6 seed Lasell University
7:00 p.m. - No. 2 seed Tufts University vs. No. 7 seed Bridgewater State University
Friday, November 21, 2025
Semifinals
4:30 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 22, 2025
Regional Final
5:00 p.m.
Location: Medford, MA – Cousens Gymnasium
Live Coverage:
LIVE STATS –
LIVE VIDEO
A Look At the Jumbos (22-5)
The Tufts University women's volleyball team enters the NCAA Tournament following an impressive 22-5 season punctuated by a strong finish in the NESCAC Tournament, where they won three straight matches to secure the conference's automatic bid. The Jumbos established themselves as one of the most complete and consistent teams throughout the year, excelling in nearly every statistical category while demonstrating adaptability and composure in high-pressure situations.
Offensively, Tufts showcased extraordinary depth with multiple hitters capable of taking over matches. Right side
Maiwenn Kamdje led the team in kills, combining power with efficiency and also making a significant impact defensively at the net. She was complemented by outside hitter
Claire Castor, who provided consistent scoring and versatility. The Jumbos also benefited from strong contributions by
Emma Heckman, a reliable arm from the right side, and
Julia Griffiths, who led the team in hitting percentage and helped stretch opposing defenses.
The attack was orchestrated by setter
Rianna Liu, who commanded the offense with precision and creativity. Liu's ability to distribute the ball effectively across all zones kept opponents guessing, while fellow setter
Ellery Clark added impactful minutes to create a dual-setter rhythm. This flexibility enabled Tufts to adjust mid-match and maintain tempo when facing teams with strong block-and-defend systems.
Defensively, Tufts was exceptional both on the floor and at the net. Libero
Matsa Shi anchored the back row with outstanding range and ball control, often turning difficult contact into high-quality transition opportunities. At the net, Kamdje, Griffiths and Castor were primary contributors in blocking schemes, helping to neutralize powerful outside attacks. The team's ability to extend rallies and capitalize in transition was a defining component of their success.
From the service line, the Jumbos played aggressively and effectively, using pressure serving to disrupt opponent formations and generate point runs. Shi, Liu, and
Lola Tortorello were among the top service contributors, consistently forcing out-of-system play from their opponents. While the team accepted the occasional service error as part of their risk-reward strategy, the pressure often tilted the momentum in their favor during critical stretches.
Tufts built a strong résumé with signature wins over competitive programs such as Stevens, Springfield, Babson, and nationally recognized Johns Hopkins. A mid-season dip, including losses to Colby and Bowdoin, provided a turning point for the team. They responded with poise, closing the season with nine straight wins, including decisive NESCAC Tournament victories. Their quarterfinal sweep of Bowdoin was commanding, and they followed it with a composed semifinal win over Wesleyan before defeating Colby in the championship match-up.
Heading into the NCAA Tournament, Tufts brings balance, veteran leadership, and competitive resilience. Their depth across the front row, along with the ability to adjust to opponent strategies and apply pressure in all phases of the game, makes them a formidable contender. With momentum from their conference title run and a proven ability to rise to the occasion in tight matches, the Jumbos have the tools to make a deep postseason push against national competition.
Against The Field
Tufts has gone the following against the teams in the field:
Bridgewater State: 23-0 (Since 1994, Last: 2012: Tufts, 3-0)
Emory: 0-3 (Last, 2023: Emory, 3-1)
ETBU: Never Faced
Lasell: 1-0 (Since 2005, Last: 2005: Tufts, 3-0)
Kean: Never Faced
Springfield: 18-17 (Since 1996, Last: 2025: Tufts, 3-0)
Maine Maritime: 5-0 (Since 2009, Last: 2025: Tufts 3-0)
Scouting the Field
No. 1 East Texas Baptist is the only undefeated team left in the country, having earned the ASC title thanks to an explosive offense. The Tigers lead the nation in kills per set with 14.18, while their hitting percentage of .284 is second in the country. Graycee Mosley is eighth in the nation in kills per set with 4.72 a stanza, while Lara Hornsby also has tallied 2.89 per set. Anita Hancock is a force in the middle with 117 blocks, while Callie Humphrey leads the defensive unit with 431 total digs.
The No. 3 seed Kean University Cougars also possess a ton of firepower, as they are ranked in the top 20 in hitting percentage, kills per set and total assists. Kean is hitting .248 as a squad this year, while the 1636 kills is second in the nation. The Cougars also serve tough with 312 aces, 11th most in the country, while Aspen O'Brien generals the offense with the fifth-most assists in the nation with 10.57 per set. Ashley Torok has posted 3.80 kills per game to pace Kean, while Cayley Elana Morrison has 119 blocks and 3.47 terminations per game.
The No. 4 seed Eagles had a solid season in the UAA this year, and are another offensive powerhouse, as Emory posted 13.87 kills per set. That was the fifth-most in the nation this year, hitting a very strong .235 on the season. Despite the highly ranked offensive unit, the Eagles spread the wealth and don't have a single offensive player in the top 300 in kills per set. Eliane Silberman his attacking at a .327 clip this year, tops in the UAA. Olivia Rabinowitz also has 8.35 assists per set, second in the UAA.
The No. 5 seed Pride of Springfield played in the highly competitive NEWMAC, and finished third in the conference to earn the at-large bid. The Pride was one of the top serving squads in the country with 282 aces on the season, 26th-most in D-III, while holding opposing squads to just .123 hitting on the season. Jodi Saelua is the team's top hitter with a .365 hitting clip, as she also is averaging over a block per set. Tori Colosimo runs the offense, posting 898 assists on the year.
The No. 6 Lasers of Lasell have one of the nation's top winning percentage, going 29-3 in the year while capturing the title in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference. The Lasers have won 14 straight, and have the country's third best net defense holding teams to just .088 attacking on the season. Victoria Pariseault is fifth in NCAA Division III with a strong .417 clip, while Morgan Bogli is the top hitting option with 2.98 kills per set. Bogli is also 30th in the nation in aces this season with 69.
The No. 7 Bears of Bridgewater State rolled through the MASCAC this season, winning the regular season and conference titles to get into the NCAA Tournament. BSU posted the top hitting percentage in the MASCAC at .224 this season, and tallied the 13th most aces per set in Division III this year with 2.94 per stanza. Ava Crane was 20th in aces per set with 0.72, while Lily Welch leads the hitting unit with 3.03 per game.
Maine Maritime is the No. 8 seed after picking up yet another North Atlantic Conference crown, this year under first-year head coach Jessany Petricevic. Maine Maritime has the second-most aces per set in the nation with 3.62 this season, while its hitting clup of .250 is 13th nationally. Ila Smith is third in the country in hitting with a .437 percentage, while Hunnie Zuber-Stephens has 83 aces, good for third-most in Division III. Maine Maritime only has nine players this year, but Sydney Williams has helped lead the offense with 3.95 kills per set.
--JUMBOS--
