MEDFORD, MA (October 9, 2026) -- The Tufts University volleyball shook off a slow start, but rallied after dropping the first set to control the next three stanzas in a 3-1 home victory over Trinity College in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) play inside Cousens Gymnasium. The final scores were 24-26, 25-10, 25-15 and 25-4. 

The win was the Jumbos seventh consecutive victory, as Tufts improved to 12-5 overall and 4-1 in the NESCAC. During the stretch, the offensive efficiency has been a calling card for the Jumbos and Friday evening was no different. The Jumbos hit a stellar .273 for the match, hammering down 44 kills for the outing as it upped its win streak over Trinity to 16 straight matches. Tufts has now lost to Trinity since 2012, and is 32-3 since 1996. 

Tufts also had a season-high 17 service aces Friday night, which was the most in a match since posting 17 last year in a five-set win over Salisbury on September 6, 2025. It was the most in a NESCAC win since chalking up 17 against Colby College on October 15, 2016. 

The Jumbos were in control of the first set, leading 20-13 after a kill by first-year Tessa Fergusson, but Trinity would rally back. Tufts had two set points but the final four points of the period went to the Bantams, as Trinity battled for a 1-0 match edge. Sophomore Hazel Nelson had four kills in the frame for the Jumbos. 

Tufts would take back the momentum though, hitting a whopping .667 in the second frame led by five kills apiece from junior Maiwenn Kamdje and senior Claire Castor to deadlock the match at a set apiece. The Jumbos also forced Trinity into just three kills and -.062 hitting. 

The offense lagged a little in the third set, but the service game picked up the slack with five aces including two from junior Dylan Whisenant. Tufts also passed well in the set, led by five receptions each from Castor and senior Becca DePencier Piñero. 

The fourth and final set was all Tufts, hitting .500 as the set finished without even one rotation thanks to six service aces including three from sophomore Amanda Freehill. The 21-point split on a set was the largest for Tufts since a 25-4 win over Brandeis in the first set of a 3-0 win back on October 10, 2015. 

The Jumbos were paced by 12 kills from Castor, who added seven digs and one ace. Kamdje had 10 kills, three digs and three assisted blocks, while Fergusson finished with six kills, five total blocks and two aces. Freehill had five aces and nine digs for Tufts, while Celina Savage tallied eight kills on 13 swings as she hit .538 for the evening. 

Nelson posted seven kills on 12 attacks, hitting .500 to go with four total blocks, and DePencier Pinero added eight total digs. Whisenant totaled six digs and four service acces, and Rianna Liu led the Jumbos with 21 assists and seven digs. Ellery Clark also had three aces, four digs and 14 helpers. 

Tufts was strong Friday in transition, as it hit .327 on first ball attacks off of a dig, led by Savage who was 5-for-7 in those chances. 

Emma Ewart led the Bantams (10-5, 1-5 NESCAC) with eight kills and 15 digs in the loss. 

The Jumbos will host Connecticut College Saturday at 2 p.m. in more NESCAC action from Cousens Gymnasium.