One week after taking care of regional and national powers to climb to No. 3 in New England, the volleyball team went to work on the NESCAC standings.
With a 3-1 win over Williams on Friday and a 3-0 win over Hamilton on Saturday, the Jumbos improved to 3-1 in the conference and 15-3 overall.
"It was a good solid weekend," coach Cora Thompson said. "Everybody played well and everybody got a chance to get healthy."
The Jumbos coasted by the Continentals, winning 30-15, 30-21 and 30-19. Thompson rested some of her starters and allowed lesser-used players to get serious court time. Usual starters, senior co-captain Courtney Evans, junior Kelli Harrison and freshmen Natalie Goldstein and Kaitlin O'Reilly, watched the match from the bench.
With O'Reilly, the team's setter sitting out, Tufts turned to freshman Stacy Filocco. While Filocco is listed as the team's backup setter, she has played this season as an outside hitter, compiling 29 kills in 15 games.
"We were just mixing it up, getting different people to play," Filocco said.
Filocco spread out 28 assists in the effort and added five digs and three block assists as the Jumbos rolled over the 4-13 Continentals, who are winless in NESCAC.
"We wanted to get [Filocco] some game experience setting because we've mainly used her at right outside hitter," Thompson said. "She did a good job improving as the match went on."
Also seeing action was Freshman Kate Denniston, who had played in only five games this season. Denniston played the entire match with 10 kills and just one error in 15 attacks.
"It was good for a few of our freshmen to get some game-time experience, to start a game, to finish a game, and to beat a NESCAC team," Thompson said.
Sophomore Kay Lutostanski led the attack with 12 kills and three aces. On defense, sophomore Katie Wysham helped the Tufts front line record 10 blocks.
The Jumbos defeated Williams for the third time this season. This victory, unlike the other two during tournament play, counted toward NESCAC standings.
"I thought we played really well," Filocco said. "I thought they were really coming out to beat us because we had already beaten them twice, but we stepped up and played well."
In the first game, Williams squeaked out a 32-30 victory.
"It was a tough match," Thompson said. "Williams was much improved. They really came flying out of the gates."
The Jumbos were able to rebound from the loss with a pair of 30-22 victories and take a 2-1 lead. Williams would not quit, pushing Tufts to the wire in the fourth game. The Jumbos pulled out the 32-30 come-from-behind victory to win the match.
"If anything, our refuse-to-lose attitude came out, especially at the end," Thompson said.
The difference for the Jumbos was better ball control, coupled with a stronger block. The win illustrated a passing of the torch in the NESCAC. Coming into this year, the Ephs had won four straight NESCAC championships and last year, Williams beat Tufts three times, all by a 3-0 margin. This year though, the Jumbos have taken all three matches.
Harrison had a big match, tallying 25 kills and 16 digs. Wysham assisted her with 14 kills and three blocks, and Goldstein recorded 36 digs from the libero position.
One area where the Jumbos struggled was serving. While they managed nine aces, they also committed 12 errors. O'Reilly and classmate Maya Ripecky had a combined seven aces, but recorded an equal number of errors.
Prior to this weekend's success, the Jumbos moved up to third in the New England regional rankings.
"It's great," Filocco said. "It's a little bit frustrating, though, because we beat MIT and they're still ranked above us at second. We're looking forward to finishing the season strong, moving up in the rankings, and hopefully winning the NESCAC."
Thompson, however, placed little emphasis on the polls.
"It's good in terms of our confidence, but it means nothing," Thompson said. "The higher you are in the poll, the more it means for teams to beat you. I'd rather hang out in the middle and finish first at the end."
The Jumbos will be challenged in their quest for a NESCAC title by a 19-1 Colby team ranked No. 1 in New England. The Mules' 3-0 defeat of the Jumbos on Sept. 19 shows, with Williams struggling, the NESCAC title is very much up for grabs.
The Jumbos will continue their season at 7 p.m. Tuesday night with a match against Connecticut College at Cousens Gym, one of only three home matches remaining.
