Jumbos' season ends with loss in quarterfinal

The volleyball team began its quest this season with one ultimate goal in mind -- a NESCAC championship. Unfortunately for the Jumbos, this goal eluded the squad once again, due to a loss in the quarterfinals to Amherst 2-3.

"Everyone thought we could do better, so [the season] was a little disappointing," junior Alison Sauer said. "However, it was still great."

While the outcome of the postseason speaks the loudest, those who have followed this team the entire season know that there are many quieter accomplishments to boast about.

Most importantly, the team proved what it means to have depth on the bench, after two key starters went down in October with injuries.

Six-foot middle hitter senior Amy Cronin sustained an ankle fracture early on and was unable to return to the court. Last season, Cronin led the team in kills with 416, averaging 3.6 kills per game. She was also named to the All-NESCAC first team, and was expected to be the leader of the Jumbo attack at the net.

To make matters worse for this team, senior setter Lindsay Moses also was unavailable to play for the better part of the season. Losing Moses, who contributed ten assists per game last year in a position that is vital in controlling the pace of the game could have ruined the season.

"It was hard to lose them," Sauer said. "Especially when we went into the season thinking we had them and working around them. However, I think we turned out to be just as good. It was a shame for them to miss out on their last season, but overall I think we coped with it well."

Simultaneously losing two starters, both captains, out of a six-member starting lineup is certainly a roadblock to success. Coach Cora Thompson, however, had a deep bench just waiting to be tapped into, specifically sophomore April Gerry and junior Rebecca Schaevitz.

Gerry stepped into the vacant spot at middle hitter without significant collegiate experience at the position. Holding her own, she managed 2.24 kills per game and 69 assisted and solo blocks. Likewise, Schaevitz did not miss a beat sliding into the leadership roll of setter, amassing around 12 assists per game.

But the two were not alone out there, as the success of this season has to be attributed to the increased intensity by the four starters who remained. At the net, sophomore middle hitter Courtney Evans had even more required of her as she was the player with the most experience at that position in the rotation. She answered the call with 2.63 kills per game and a team high 144 assisted and solo blocks. She also led the team in service aces with 37 throughout the season.

Key contributions also came from other positions on the court. Junior outside hitter Emily Macy, contributed the second highest numbers in kills per game (2.71) and digs (326) and stepped up to provide leadership. Also stepping up was the only remaining captain on the court, senior libero Danielle Cafasso, who led the defense with a team high 327 digs. Also providing leadership was junior right side hitter Sauer, who contributed all around play and 2.28 kills per game.

Also, one cannot ignore the all-around performance of freshman outside hitter Kelli Harrison, who put up senior class numbers. She led the team in kills with 3.65 a game and contributed 36 aces. Defensively, she was equally strong, including 265 digs and 45 blocks. She was also named to the NESCAC honorary mention team and will be someone to watch next year.

Combining a talented bench with the strong conviction from the four remaining starters, Tufts produced a season that even the team at 100 percent could be proud of.

"Everyone really stepped into their roles." Sauer said. "This team worked really well together."

Tufts finished the season with a record of 20-11, 6-4 in the competitive NESCAC. In fact, though the Jumbos did not numerically top last season's wins (20), this squad can say that it improved upon last year's performance. Thompson purposely added more difficulty to this year's schedule, including matches against Gordon and the MIT tournament, fully knowing that this might impact negatively on Tufts' win-loss record.

There were also specific highlights this year that deserved honorable mention. Against Wellesley, one of the top teams in the region, the Jumbos were able to come away with a 3-1 victory. The win was the first against Wellesley in ten years.

The team also had a seven-game winning streak in the beginning of October that streak included a weekend of NESCAC play.

"We played well throughout the season," Harrison said. "There were a few low points, but every team has them. Overall, we had a successful and energetic season."

These low points include the way the squad's performance slipped in the last few weeks of the season, when they were unable to put away games with closely matched counterparts such as Bates and Colby. End of season fatigue and stress took its toll on this squad that already was dealing with the loss of experienced players.

Despite the setbacks, this will be a team to watch next season, as the Jumbos will lose only one active senior. Additionally, they are in a position to start six members on the court with a least a full season of playing experience in their positions.

"We stayed together and worked together as a team, especially in our last game at Amherst," Harrison said. "Next season we need to remember to show up pumped to every game, to play each game as if it was a championship."