The 28-6 women's volleyball team may not have been represented in the NCAA tournament, but it was very well represented in the volleyball All-Conference teams.
Sophomore outside hitter Kelli Harrison lead the way with her second straight First Team selection and coach Cora Thompson won the NESCAC Coach of the Year.
Thompson led the Jumbos to their most successful season in team history, finishing an all-time high second in New England.
Tufts increased its win total by eight games over last season, advanced to the conference finals for the first time since 1996, and rattled off sixteen straight W's, eclipsing the former team record of 15.
"Even though we had a really great core, coach did an awesome job integrating the five new players [and] keeping us motivated all year," Harrison said. "Our goal was to get 21 wins, and we got 28, and she really made us work harder and smarter to make the program a lot better from last year."
Arguably the top sophomore in the NESCAC, Harrison led the Jumbos offensively this season, averaging 3.38 kills per game and contributing on defense with 3.55 digs per game.
Following close behind on the All-conference Second Team were junior Courtney Evans and senior co-captain Emily Macy. Evans led the top defense in the NESCAC up front with 1.25 blocks per game, good for third in the conference. In addition, Evans led the team in service aces with 54 and was second in kills with 234.
Macy, who switched from outside hitter to libero at the start of the season, consistently anchored the backline defense for the Jumbos all year. The squad's emotional leader notched 491 digs in the fall for an average 4.55 digs per game.
Both numbers were career highs for the Henderson, Nevada native, and were good for tops on the Jumbos and eleventh in the conference.
"I'm really glad the other coaches in the conference recognized her heart and desire," Harrison said. "She has the most incredible love for volleyball and it really shows in her play, so I'm glad she was recognized for that."
Freshman Kay Lutostanski was recognized by the conference coaches as the top freshman in the region after coming in playing an integral role as an outside hitter.
The 6'0" Houston native led Tufts freshmen with 151 kills and 2.07 per game. Her most impressive performance came in the biggest game of the season for the Jumbos, in the semifinals of the NESCAC playoffs against Amherst, where she recorded 12 kills to help lead the Jumbos past the Jeffs and on to the finals.
"Sometimes it's difficult when you have a lot of freshmen like we did," Harrison said. "They all seemed to fit in really well, they stepped up and Kay really proved that."
Moving from the court to the turf, junior tri-captain Lea Napolitano was the lone Jumbo to grace the NESCAC's All-conference First Team in field hockey, capturing the honor for the second straight season.
Despite having a seemingly smaller role in the offense, the junior was the field general for the Jumbos both offensively and defensively and still managed to tally six goals and five assists for 17 points, all good for second on the team.
"Lea's a very versatile player," fellow junior tri-captain Jeanie Grabowski said. "No matter where you put her on the field she will always do well."
Panzer, who came into the season never having scored a goal, leaves the Tufts field hockey program in style, leading the team in all major statistical categories and being named to the All-conference Second Team for the first time in her four year career.
The senior tri-captain set a school record in her final season with 33 points on 12 goals and nine assists.
At one point midway through the fall, she was leading the NESCAC in total points, but ended up fourth in points per game (2.20), fifth in goals per game (0.80) and fifth in assists per game (0.60).
"Dana has put in a lot of time in field hockey both off season and during the season," Grabowski said. "She worked 100 percent during practice and worked a lot at camps this summer and even by herself at times. Her hard work ethic and passion for the game are what have gotten her this far."
