After suffering a straight-set loss to Williams Friday night, the volleyball team rebounded with its first NESCAC win of the year Saturday.
The Jumbos beat Hamilton in four games, 30-22, 30-16, 24-30 and 30-21, at Cousens Gym Saturday afternoon. They were led by senior captain Katie Wysham, who finished with 15 kills and only one error in 25 attempts.
"We were able to stay crisp and consistent throughout the match and avoided getting sloppy," Wysham said.
In all, three Jumbos - Wysham, freshman Dawson Joyce-Mendive, and sophomore Brogie Helgeson - recorded double figures in kills. Tufts also put up a strong defensive effort, as Joyce-Mendive posted 22 digs, while junior Natalie Goldstein had 21, her third 20-dig game of the season.
The team played more cohesively and managed to pass and hit much better than in previous games. The setters for Tufts also pitched in nicely, not only with their sets but also with their serves. Junior Kaitlin O'Reilly had three service aces to add to her 29 set assists, while sophomore Dena Feiger added 26 set assists to round off the Jumbo attack.
The win over the Continentals improved Tufts' NESCAC record to 1-1. The team lost its first conference game of the season on Friday when it faced undefeated Williams in a far more formidable test than the 0-8 Continentals. The Ephs upped their mark to 5-0, defeating the Jumbos in three straight games.
A large and ecstatic crowd filled the gym to cheer on the Jumbos, hoping to propel them to an upset of the Ephs. The cheering section, led by the swim team, was not able to cheer on a Tufts win, but their presence was felt and appreciated nonetheless.
"It is so much more fun to play when we have a big crowd," sophomore Dena Feiger said.
"I don't think we have ever had that big a crowd presence," Wysham added. "It really helped our energy level."
Tufts came out strong and put up a good battle to keep the first two games close, but wound up losing them both, 24-30 and 25-30.
"We definitely played up a level in the first two games," Wysham said. "But then I think we rolled over in the third."
Tufts was led offensively by junior Stacy Filocco, who had 10 kills, and Wysham and Helgeson, who each had seven. Defensively, the Jumbos turned once again to Goldstein, and she did not disappoint, adding 15 digs. Despite the impressive stats in the first two games, the Jumbos walked away empty-handed.
"[Williams] was a very fine-tuned team," Wysham said. "Even though they are young, they played like they had been together for a whole season."
Williams dominated defensively, as underclassman talent kept points alive for the Ephs. Sophomores Melissa Pun and Andrea Scioscia led the team in digs, with 17 and 15 respectively.
The Jumbos met a very talented team in the Ephs, but they also expect to improve to the point of being able to give their NESCAC competitor a real challenge later on in the season.
"They were a smarter hitting and a better passing team than we are right now," Feiger said. "But I think we will get to that level soon."
In the coming week, Tufts will try to build on its increasingly consistent team play as it travels to Wenham, Mass. on Tuesday to take on the Gordon Fighting Scots. Gordon has put together a solid 7-3 record on the season, including a win against Colby earlier this month.
After the midweek contest, the Jumbos will spend Friday and Saturday at the MIT Tournament.
With two wins in their first three home matches, dating back to a 3-2 win over Endicott last Tuesday, the Jumbos have recovered from their season-opening 0-4 swing through California that raised some doubts about the 2007 team.
"I think we are definitely starting to grow up together," Wysham said. "We are going to be a dominant force."
