WALTHAM, MA (September 19, 2026) -- The No. 17 Tufts University women's volleyball team knocked off host Brandeis University in straight sets to start action at the 2026 New England Challenge, but couldn't keep the momentum going in dropping a four-set match to Endicott College in play from Red Auerbach Arena on the campus of Brandeis.
Tufts topped the Judges 25-21, 25-19 and 25-12, but were bested 20-25, 25-22, 25-14 and 25-19 by Endicott.
Match 1: Tufts 3, Brandeis 0
Three Jumbos posted seven kills, and
Dylan Whisenant had a career-best eight service aces as Tufts rolled past the Judges in three games.
Claire Castor had another strong effort after her monster 26-kill performance against Williams on Friday night, hitting .300 on 20 swings to power down seven kills to go with three aces and seven digs. Sophomore
Destiny Francis also had seven terminations, while senior
Emma Heckman finished with seven kills and two digs.
First-year
Tessa Fergusson also had five kills and three total blocks, and
Ellery Clark finished with 13 assists and seven digs.
Rianna Liu recorded another double-double of 10 assists and 10 digs, as the Jumbos recorded a season-high 12 service aces as a squad.
Tufts hit .242 for the match, the second-best hitting performance of the season as a squad for a single match.
Emmory Casto had nine kills for the Judges, and Alexa Ho handed out 17 assists for Brandeis.
Match 2: Endicott 3, Tufts 1
The Jumbos won the opening set 25-20 behind 16 kills and a strong .308 hitting percentage, but Endicott would control the rest of the match as it pulled away for the win.
Castor was the Jumbos' leader in kills once again with 11 kills, also adding 12 digs for a double-double. Heckman led the team in points with 11 kills and three service aces, while
Maiwenn Kamdje hit .318 on 22 attempts to finish with nine kills.
Clark had 23 assists and seven digs for the Jumbos, and
Lola Tortorello finished with 16 assists and eight digs in her four sets of action. Whisenant also had six digs for the Jumbos.
Tufts hit .167 for the match as a group against EC.
The Gulls (6-3) were lifted by 12 kills from Jaquelyn Marion, while Lincoln Abramaitys had 11 terminations.
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Tufts will take on WPI Thursday, September 24 at 7 p.m. inside Cousens Gymnasium in non-conference play.
