With the Jumbos leading 28-18 in the first game of their Tuesday match against Emerson College, junior Courtney Evans moved back for the set as freshman Stephanie Viola moved forward for the bump.
As often happens when two players try to hit one ball at the same time, the two collided. Somehow, Viola managed to make contact, sending the ball to the back of the Emerson side where the opposition could not return it. The point gave Tufts a 29-18 lead.
It was just that kind of night for the volleyball team as it overcame several mistakes to defeat the Emerson College Lions 3-0 to improve to 14-3 (3-0 NESCAC) on the season.
"[Tuesday night], we played alright," freshman Katie Wysham said. "We got the win but didn't play as well as we could have played, especially in the first two games."
Sandwiched in between a tournament at home and a NESCAC weekend, it was difficult for the Jumbos to play at their highest level against Emerson.
"[Emerson] wasn't as talented as some of the teams we've played this year, so it's hard to stay mentally focused and keep your game up when the other team isn't the best," Wysham said.
With freshman setter Megan Tunstill missing another match due to a back injury, senior Rebecca Schaevitz handled setting duties. She spread her 30 assists around as eight different Jumbos recorded at least two kills.
"As a coach, I love to see my team's level of play stay high no matter who I put on the court," coach Cora Thompson said. "We have such a strong team, one through 12, and it was great to see them all contribute to this win."
After winning the first game 30-18, the Jumbos found themselves in a close game the second time around, leading by just one at 13-12. The Jumbos then went on a 7-0 run started by one of Wysham's five kills.
After allowing Emerson to come within six points, the Jumbos went on another run, taking a 29-19 lead. Due to a series of miscues in which senior Ali Sauer mishandled a spike and Viola bumped the ball into the net, the Jumbos allowed the Lions to pull within five, 29-24, before Sauer put the game away with a block.
The Jumbos recorded 11 blocks in the match. Wysham led the way in that category with one solo and five assists.
"Our tall team is able to really put the ball down on defense," Wysham said. "On hitting, also, it has really helped to have a tall team."
The Jumbos lead the NESCAC in blocks averaging 3.43 per game. They have been aided by the fact that seven Jumbos stand at 5'11" or taller.
In the third game of the match, the Jumbos played what they thought was their best game.
Tufts jumped out to a 17-2 lead, as freshman Kay Lutostanski recorded five of her six kills. The Lions failed to come closer than nine points from the surging Jumbos the rest of the way, as Schaevitz piled on four aces. Evans gave the Jumbos the 30-14 win with an ace of her own. The team recorded 17 aces in the three games.
Tufts also had some service problems though, as it committed seven service errors.
Senior captain Emily Macy played the entire match at the libero position, even though Viola has played that position through most of the season. Macy, however, recorded ten kills in the important defensive role.
"When [Macy] plays libero, the game always is faster," sophomore Kelli Harrison said. "She has quick, low passes so it keeps the pace of the game up."
Harrison was named NESCAC Player of the Week on Oct. 5. She became the first non-Williams player to earn such an honor this year.
"It's definitely an honor, but it's not really important," Harrison said. "It's a better thing to have the team recognized."
The Jumbos will try to continue their undefeated NESCAC record this weekend as they travel to Colby College to play rivals Colby, Bowdoin and Bates.
"Colby and Bates have been pretty consistently good," Harrison said. "I'm definitely excited to play Colby. It'll be a rematch from last year."
The Jumbos lost 3-1 to Colby in 2003, but they expect a win this year.
"I am expecting to go 3-0 and not drop a game," Thompson said. "The team holds the same expectations for themselves. However, we know it will not be easy at all."
