Tufts athletics continued to dominate with solid play this weekend, which ended in conference accolades for three Jumbo competitors. Sophomore Sarah Nolet was named NESCAC Player of the Week for women's soccer, junior Jesse Faller claimed Performer of the Week honors in men's cross country and sophomore Caitlin Updike earned Player of the Week for volleyball.
A defensive center-midfielder, Nolet nabbed the honor for her efforts in the Jumbos' matches against Wheaton and Bates. She scored what proved to be the game-winner against the powerhouse Lyons as the Jumbos upset them 2-0 on the road Wednesday. Homecoming Saturday saw her provide an insurance goal as Tufts took out Bates by the same score. Additionally, she contributed to the 4-0 Jumbos' stellar defense as they blanked both opponents this week, a pattern that stretches back to the start of the season; the Tufts defensive line has yet to surrender a single goal all season.
Faller took home NESCAC Performer of the Week honors for his first-place finish at the 41st annual Codfish Bowl at Franklin Park in Boston. Competing against a field of 155 runners (Div. II and Div. III athletes and amateur competition), Faller's time of 25:42 on the 8k course was three seconds ahead of second-place Nicholas Koiyet of the New York Institute of Technology. The win was the first of Faller's collegiate career and helped Tufts place second out of 17 teams.
Meanwhile, Updike had quite a week for the volleyball team, capturing both NESCAC Player of the Week and Tournament MVP accolades at the MIT Invitational as the Jumbos improved to a perfect team record of 13-0. Updike's best performance came in the Jumbos' biggest match — the final against NESCAC foe Conn. College — in which she led the team with 20 kills and contributed an additional 16 digs. She led or co-led the Jumbos in kills in each of their four matches over the weekend, guiding the squad to its first-ever victory at the tournament, which is held in Cambridge, Mass.
