Volleyball team goes 3-0 at NESCAC weekend

Despite lineup changes and absent players, the Jumbos nevertheless stove to improve upon their previous performances in the second all-important NESCAC weekend hosted by Trinity. Tufts' undefeated performance in last weekend's Bates Invitational was not enough to satisfy this squad apparently, as this weekend they played three perfect matches against Trinity, Wesleyan, and Connecticut College to improve the Jumbos record to 5-1, (15-5).

Once again in a great display of the depth this team possesses, the Jumbos were able to dispatch two competitive NESCAC teams with many changes made in their rotation.

Sophomore April Gerry -- who was to fill in for injured senior Amy Cronin as starting middle hitter -- was unable to attend Saturday's matches against Wesleyan and Connecticut College due to a family event. Down two middle hitters, coach Cora Thompson had to maneuver her already thinning bench to make up for the loss.

With only one week to practice the new formations, Thompson chose to move regular outside starter freshman Kelli Harrison to middle hitter for Saturday's matches. Harrison had been averaging over 3.5 kills per game from the outside -- good enough to lead the team in kills. Thompson was confident she could make the adjustment because of Harrison's versatility, and her limited experience in the middle hitting position in high school.

With Harrison shifting to middle, Thompson brought in freshman Dana Fleisher to fill in on the outside. This was the first major action Fleisher had seen this season, due primarily to a pre-season shoulder injury that kept her off the court.

With new players on the court, as well as old players in different positions, it should have been difficult to find on-court chemistry and rhythm, as well as having everyone produce in their newly assigned roles after only practicing a week.

Thompson, however was confident in her team's ability to make the adjustments necessary to win.

"We'll be ready. We are in great volleyball shape right now so I know we are physically able to do it. It is just a matter of getting the kinks out," Thompson said. Entering match number one against Wesleyan, the Jumbos looked to gain their first victory over the Cardinals in three years. The team was especially looking to avenge last year's 3-0 loss. Wesleyan entered the tournament with a 1-2 record of NESCAC play, a spot below the Jumbos (2-1).

In the first game, the Jumbos were still working the kinks out of the new rotation. Not only were there the huge adjustments at the net, but also defensive roles had to be switched around, including the placement of senior tri-captain and libero Dani Cafasso.

Normally, Cafasso would substitute on the back row for the middle hitter; however Harrison is used to playing defense is an asset to the back row. Thompson instead played Cafasso for Fleisher a move which in certain circumstances asked Cafasso and Harrison to line up for opposing attacks differently than the were used to.

Wesleyan was almost able to take advantage of the rearrangement of Tufts' squad, forcing the game to go into extra points. In the end, however, the Jumbos were able to win game one 31-29. After that the team took off, easily putting away the Cardinals in the next two games (30-19, 30-27).

"I have full confidence in no matter what we do," Thompson said. "I am just trying to put the pieces together in different ways. The great thing is that we are so versatile"

The key to this victory was the fact all of the players stepping onto the court produced from their positions. Despite the lineup changes in the back row, Cafasso still managed 10 digs in the game to lead the defense.

Harrison was also able to get the job done offensively in the middle, leading the team with 16 kills. Also necessary for the victory were strong performances from regular starters junior Emily Macy on the outside and sophomore Courtney Evans in the middle. Macy racked up 10 kills in the match while Evans answered with nine.

The Jumbos went on to maul over the Connecticut College Camels--who has yet to win against a NESCAC team--later that day dispatching them in three games (30-15, 30-26, 30-8). Most notable in this performance was the return of senior co-captain setter Lindsey Moses who appeared to have not missed a beat, earning 28 assists and 19 service points including one ace.

The Jumbos once again proved they were a top team defensively in this match with 21 digs and not a single service receive error.

These wins on Saturday had already been preceded by a resounding defeat of hosts Trinity college (30-25, 30-22, 30-26) on Friday night. Gerry was in the lineup for this game and so they used the rotation the team had been using the past few weeks. Junior setter Rebecca Schaevitz managed give her hitters 34 assists over the course of the match and Evans was a force at the net, earning four solo blocks and three assisted. The team as a whole dominated the match with their serving, racking up seven aces.

The Jumbos now sit in a four-way tie for second place in the NESCAC with a record of 5-1. Williams (5-0), the Jumbos only loss, is seated atop the rest of the pack. Tufts will continue play on Thursday against Wheaton followed by a home game on Saturday against Amherst (5-1) who is also part of the second place tie.