Before the season, coach Cora Thompson labeled the 2004 edition of the Tufts volleyball team the most talented group she has ever coached.
28 wins later, the Jumbos proved her right as they increased their win total from last season by eight wins and tied a school record for wins in a season.
"It was a unique combination of great senior leadership, experience and then a lot of new talent," Thompson said. "This is certainly the most complete team that I have coached and certainly the most talented top to bottom. There is no bottom, and that's the greatest thing about it. Every player is so skilled and brings so much to the team in her own different way."
That group of individual players formed a team that had one of the most successful seasons in the 24-year history of the program. The Jumbos compiled a 28-6 record, finished second in the NESCAC and came one game away from the NCAA Tournament.
"It was the best season I've ever had at Tufts," senior co-captain Emily Macy said. "It was the best of my collegiate career. The team was amazing. We were obviously successful as you can see with the 28-6 record."
Despite all of the accolades the Jumbos received, being ranked third in New England, they did not earn a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Williams earned the NESCAC's automatic bid by defeating the Jumbos 3-0 on Sunday and the tournament committee failed to award the Jumbos an at-large bid.
"Obviously as a senior our goal was the NESCAC Championship and it was a little disheartening not to go to the NCAA [Tournament], but I have no regrets," Macy said. "We played hard and left our hearts out on the court."
Thompson saw a glimpse of that heart and effort last weekend against Amherst. Down 10-6 in the fifth and deciding game of a match that could have ended the Jumbos' season, Tufts went on an eight-point run en route to a victory.
"This team was about heart and desire, and when we were down 10-6 against Amherst this past weekend in the semi-final game of [the NESCAC Tournament], we fought back point-by-point just focusing on the present," Thompson said. "That has been our motto. Work as hard as we can in the present and good things will happen."
The win over Amherst was the Jumbos' second of the season against that same opponent. On Oct. 16, Tufts came back from a 2-0 deficit to win three games in a row and defeat the Lord Jeffs for the first time in 13 meetings.
This was the eleventh win during the Jumbos' season-best 16-game winning streak.
The streak culminated with a 3-2 win over Springfield College on Oct. 23, allowing the Jumbos to advance to the final of the Hall of Fame Classic. Springfield had beaten Tufts on Sept. 24 in the MIT Invitational in a game in which the Jumbos came back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the match, but could not pull out the fifth game.
"There were not too many [lowlights] at all," Thompson said. "I can't even really pinpoint any. This team learned from any struggles that it had and moved on from them. Any loss we suffered, we learned and came back to avenge it."
The Jumbos were successful in avenging losses to Wellesley and Springfield, but could not find a way to beat Williams, losing to the Ephs three times.
"I think the first two matches against Williams were tough because we didn't play together as a team so we took those as learning experiences," junior Courtney Evans said.
Williams was dominant over the Jumbos, winning all nine games and only allowing Tufts to come within 10 points in three games.
The Jumbos hope to have better luck next year against Williams as the Ephs will lose their libero, top outside hitter and 6'2" middle blocker.
"I actually think that next year we are going to be the team to beat," Evans said. "We are definitely losing good players, but the freshmen will play better as sophomores. I think we have a chance to make it to the NCAA Tournament."
The Jumbos faced the challenge of integrating five freshmen into their system this year, but Thompson didn't see this as a problem.
"I think a young team is a good thing," Thompson said. "These freshmen were able to experience success and play at a high level against the best teams in the region. They also played under great leaders who have taught them what it takes to be a part of a successful team."
The Jumbos will lose some of those leaders as Macy along with co-captain Ali Sauer and setter Rebecca Schaevitz who will graduate in the spring.
Macy and Sauer were key to the defense with 4.27 and 2.60 digs per game respectively. Those totals were good for first and third on the team.
Schaevitz, who replaced injured freshman Megan Tunstill halfway through the season, averaged 11.13 assists per game.
"[The seniors] mean everything to me and the program," Thompson said. "They have helped me build this program and, trust me, there have been a lot of tough times. There has been a lot of blood, sweat and tears over the years. They teamed up with me and committed to creating a phenom called Tufts volleyball.
