The volleyball team entered this weekend's MIT Invitational with three wins on the season. And after playing some of their best volleyball of the season, they left having doubled that number.
The Jumbos advanced all the way to the finals, winning nine of their first 10 games before reaching the finals against the host Engineers. They kept it close with MIT at the beginning of the final match but eventually fell in straight sets, ceding the tournament title to the hosts.
"Our team finally found our niche," senior captain Katie Wysham said. "We definitely had a big weekend. We will continue to play this way."
With the successful weekend, the Jumbos moved their record to an even 6-6. Furthermore, Wysham and junior Natalie Goldstein were rewarded for their play by being named to the All-Tournament Team.
Saturday was a familiar scene, as the Engineers hosted the Jumbos in the finals for the second straight year. The results were also similar, as the Engineers emerged victorious by a score of 30-25, 30-18, 30-20, winning another MIT Invitational title and improving to 14-1 on the season.
"We could've beat MIT," Wysham said. "We came together in every game except for the MIT game. We fed off each other."
The Jumbos will try to exact revenge next weekend, however, as they host their own invitational tournament. Both teams are serious contenders to make another run at a tournament final, and the Jumbos are eager for a rematch.
"We definitely still have momentum," sophomore Dena Feiger said. "MIT is really good. Playing them helps us improve, and we look forward to playing them again."
Tufts advanced to the final showdown by defeating Wellesley in straight games in the semis Saturday afternoon. This marked the Jumbos' third sweep of the season and their second consecutive 3-0 win in the tournament. Wysham and freshman Caitlin Updike both contributed 11 kills as the Jumbos cruised to victory.
On Friday afternoon, playing at their home Cousens Gym, the Jumbos opened with a win over Bridgewater State. Led by Wysham, who along with freshman Dawson Joyce-Mendive tallied double-digit kills, Tufts beat Bridgewater in four by scores of 30-23, 30-24, 28-30, 30-27.
Despite battling tonsillitis, Joyce-Mendive impressed as she served five of Tufts' 13 aces and was one of five players with 10 or more digs. Goldstein led the team in digs as usual with 18, with classmate Maya Ripecky adding 17. The game may have been the team's finest defensive performance, as the Jumbos set season highs in both digs with 87 and blocks with 9.
Contributing on both sides of the offensive and defensive onslaught were setters Feiger and junior Kaitlin O'Reilly. The two combined for 40 sets, 14 digs, and four of the team's season-high-tying 13 aces.
Later on Friday, the Jumbos extended their winning streak to four matches as they dismantled Springfield in three games. Following a similar pattern of success, Joyce-Mendive earned 10 kills for her second straight game, along with three more aces, while fellow first-year hitter Nancy Schrodes also played a sound game with no errors and 10 kills.
"All of our freshmen played well," Feiger said. "Caitlin and Dawson on the outside really stepped up and proved they could get the job done and take care of the ball."
The weekend was an encouraging sign for the Jumbos, who are now 6-2 against New England opponents since returning from their opening road trip in California. With their own invitational set to open at Cousens Friday afternoon, the Jumbos hope to continue their strong level of play.
"I thought we played really well, stepped it up and proved that we're a force in New England," Feiger said. "I can't wait to see how we play later on."
