MEDFORD, MA (November 4, 2026) -- The surging Tufts University women's volleyball team, playing some of its best volleyball of the season and currently ranked No. 20 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top 25 poll, will play host to Bowdoin College Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) quarterfinals in Cousens Gymnasium. The Jumbos, who have won five straight, which includes wins over three top 25 teams, will be hosting Bowdoin for the third time this season Saturday. The two teams met in the final regular season game of the year last Saturday on Halloween, with Tufts coming away with a three-set victory.
Game Details
Opponent: vs. Bowdoin College (15-9, 5-5 NESCAC)
Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Location: Medford, Mass. - Cousens Gymnasium
Live Coverage:
LIVE STATS –
LIVE VIDEO
Tufts vs. Bowdoin All-Time
Since 1996, Tufts holds a 34-15 edge over the Polar Bears including a three-match winning streak coming into Saturday including a pair of wins already in 2026. The Jumbos knocked off Bowdoin last year in the NESCAC quarterfinals in three sets, and have played Bowdoin nine times in the NESCAC Tourmanent all-time with Tufts holding a 6-3 all-time mark. Tufts is making its 27th appearance in the NESCAC Tournament, as it has appeared in every NESCAC tourney. Bowdoin is making its 23rd tournament appearance, holding a 23-19 all-time record.
A Look At The Jumbos (18-7, 7-3 NESCAC)
The Tufts University women's volleyball team put together a strong 2026 regular season, finishing with an 18-7 overall record and a 7-3 mark in NESCAC play. The Jumbos secured third place in the conference standings and closed the regular season on a five-match winning streak. Tufts demonstrated its offensive strength throughout the year, ranking among the top teams in the NESCAC in several statistical categories while earning important victories against conference opponents and nationally competitive programs.
Tufts established itself as one of the conference's most productive offensive teams, finishing first in the NESCAC in both kills per set (13.94) and hitting percentage (.254) during conference play. The Jumbos also led the league in assists per set (12.74), points per set (17.83), and service aces per set (2.20). Across the full season, Tufts ranked first in the NESCAC in kills per set (13.34) and assists per set (12.33), while its .232 hitting percentage ranked second. The team's 2.14 service aces per set also ranked second in the conference, highlighting its ability to generate offense through both attacking and serving.
Maiwenn Kamdje and Claire Castor paced the Tufts attack throughout the season. Kamdje recorded 251 kills in 92 sets, averaging 2.73 kills per set, while Castor finished with 246 kills in 93 sets and averaged 2.65 per set. In conference matches, Castor ranked second in the NESCAC with 3.31 kills per set, while Kamdje ranked fourth at 3.26. Both players finished among the conference's top 10 in kills per set, providing the Jumbos with a dynamic pair of offensive options. Kamdje also contributed 36 blocks and 270 points, while Castor added 31 service aces and 224 digs.
Tessa Fergusson delivered one of the most efficient seasons in the NESCAC, finishing with 156 kills and a .340 hitting percentage. Her hitting percentage ranked fifth in the conference overall and first during NESCAC matches, when she hit .397. Fergusson also led Tufts with 83 total blocks, averaging 0.94 per set, and ranked among the conference's top blockers. Hazel Nelson provided another important presence at the net, recording 110 kills and 40 total blocks while hitting .274. Nelson's hitting percentage ranked among the conference's top 15, while her blocking helped strengthen the Jumbos' front-row defense.
The Jumbos' setting responsibilities were shared by Rianna Liu and Ellery Clark, who combined to guide an offense that ranked among the conference's best. Liu recorded 485 assists in 85 sets, averaging 5.71 assists per set, while Clark added 401 assists in 82 sets and averaged 4.89. Liu ranked second in the NESCAC in assists per set overall and led the conference during league play with 6.34 assists per set.
Tufts also received a major contribution from its serving game, led by Dylan Whisenant, who recorded 42 service aces and averaged 0.46 per set. Whisenant ranked among the conference's top five in aces per set overall and led the NESCAC during conference matches with 0.69 per set.
Defensively, Tufts totaled 1,392 digs and averaged 14.97 per set, ranking fifth in the NESCAC overall. Claire Castor was second on the team with 224 digs, while Dylan Whisenant contributed 266 digs and averaged 2.92 per set. Becca DePencier Piñero added 136 digs and helped provide depth in the back row. Tufts also limited opponents to a .161 hitting percentage over the full season, ranking fifth in the conference, and held NESCAC opponents to a .159 hitting percentage, the third-lowest mark in league play. While the Jumbos' 1.61 blocks per set ranked ninth overall in the conference, their ability to defend the floor and limit opposing attacks remained a key component of their success.
The Jumbos finished the regular season with an impressive run, winning five consecutive matches to close out October. Tufts rallied from two sets down to defeat Springfield 3-2 on October 23, then earned victories over No. 25 Babson and No. 7 MIT the following day. The team closed its regular season with back-to-back 3-0 NESCAC wins over No. 5 Colby and Bowdoin on October 30-31.
Tufts is in search of its fifth title, winning in 1996, 2019, 2022 and 2025.
A Look At The Polar Bears (15-9, 5-5 NESCAC)
The sixth-seeded Bowdoin College women's volleyball team completed its 2026 season with a 15-9 overall record and a 5-5 mark in NESCAC play. The Polar Bears finished tied for fifth in the conference standings, demonstrating their ability to compete against some of the region's top programs. Bowdoin recorded eight home victories and earned important wins against several NESCAC opponents, including Connecticut College, Trinity, Amherst, and Wesleyan.
Bowdoin established itself as one of the NESCAC's strongest teams at the net, finishing second in the conference in blocks per set during league play with 2.18. The Polar Bears also ranked fourth in points per set (15.54), fifth in kills per set (11.67), fifth in service aces per set (1.69), and sixth in assists per set (10.64). Bowdoin's .179 hitting percentage ranked seventh in conference play, while its 14.67 digs per set ranked eighth. Defensively, the Polar Bears held opponents to a .175 hitting percentage, the fourth-lowest mark in the NESCAC. The team's blocking presence proved to be a significant strength throughout the season, helping Bowdoin remain competitive in several tightly contested matches.
Alison Smith and Zoe Ryu led the Bowdoin offensive attack throughout the season. Smith finished with a team-high 231 kills, averaging 2.82 per set, while Ryu recorded 229 kills and averaged 2.63 per set. During NESCAC play, Ryu ranked ninth in the conference with 2.89 kills per set, while Smith ranked 13th at 2.68. Skye LaMendola also made a significant contribution, recording 180 kills and averaging 2.61 per set over 69 sets. LaMendola ranked 20th in the NESCAC during conference matches with 2.24 kills per set. The three attackers provided Bowdoin with consistent offensive production and helped the Polar Bears finish the season with 1,124 kills.
Bowdoin's front-row defense was led by Zoe Ryu and Hannah Woolley, who combined for 131 total blocks. Woolley led the team with 76 blocks, averaging 0.83 per set, while Ryu recorded 55 blocks and averaged 0.63 per set. Ryu ranked 12th in the NESCAC during conference play with 0.84 blocks per set, while Bowdoin's overall team average of 2.10 blocks per set ranked second in the league. Tamara Gisiger added 45 blocks, and Haley Campau contributed 46, providing additional depth at the net. Bowdoin's 197 total blocks were the second-highest team total in the conference, showcasing the Polar Bears' ability to disrupt opposing attacks.
Cameron Shelly and Molly Dunn guided the Bowdoin offense from the setting position, combining for 840 assists. Shelly recorded 470 assists in 88 sets, averaging 5.34 per set, while Dunn added 370 assists and averaged 4.51 per set. During NESCAC play, Shelly averaged 4.87 assists per set, while Dunn averaged 4.74. Bowdoin also received strong production from its serving game, led by Kelsey Kim, who recorded 15 service aces in 56 sets. Kim averaged 0.27 aces per set overall and ranked second in the NESCAC during conference play with 0.55 per set. Dunn added 30 service aces, while Shelly contributed 29, helping Bowdoin finish fifth in the league in aces per set.
Anna Yeh anchored the Bowdoin back row, recording 372 digs and averaging 3.96 per set across 94 sets. Yeh ranked eighth in the NESCAC during conference play with 3.72 digs per set, providing a consistent defensive presence throughout the season. Skye LaMendola added 181 digs, while Zoe Ryu contributed 168. Bowdoin finished with 1,354 total digs and averaged 14.40 per set, while holding opponents to 1,322 digs. The Polar Bears also limited opponents to 10.08 assists per set during conference play, the third-lowest mark in the NESCAC.
Bowdoin is in search of its fifth NESCAC title, winning in 2011, 2015, 2018 and 2021.
Other NESCAC Quarterfinals
No. 7 Conn. College at No. 2 Wesleyan - 3:00 PM
No. 8 Hamilton at No. 1 Colby - 3:00 PM
No. 5 Williams at No. 4 Middlebury - 3:00 PM
--JUMBOS--
