Another match, another win. So it has gone for the volleyball team, the last remaining undefeated squad in the NESCAC.
The Jumbos took down Gordon College 25-19, 25-18, 25-19 in Cousens Gym Tuesday night to improve to 6-0 on the season, good for their best start since 1999. Including its most recent effort, Tufts has taken 18 straight sets and hasn't surrendered one since the opening set of the squad's first match of the season against Div. II Stonehill. Its season-opening run included an impressive three-set victory over reigning NESCAC champion Williams during Saturday's Brandeis Invitational.
"[Tuesday] was a really hard match for us," sophomore Brogie Helgeson said. "We came off a really big high, playing Williams and beating them in three [sets]. What was most important tonight was keeping our own pace, and we did a good job of that, beating Gordon in three."
"This streak shows that we're going to be a really dominant force in New England," junior Dena Feiger added. "We plan on continuing this winning streak, but there are things we need to improve on. As we play together more, and as we have more practices, the flow as a team will continually get better."
Senior tri-captain Kate Denniston, who shared NESCAC Player of the Week honors for her performance at Brandeis, stayed true to form against Gordon, totaling six kills versus one error and assisting on three blocks. Denniston has been the most efficient hitter in the NESCAC in 2008, posting a team-leading .433 hitting percentage.
"Kate has done a great job thus far," coach Cora Thompson said in an e-mail to the Daily. "She absolutely deserved the honors she received this week from the Brandeis Invitational and from the NESCAC. She has been a steady source of offense and defense, and our team feels confident with her on the court. Her serving has really improved over the years, and it was fun to watch her hard work pay off on the court."
As the lone setter on the floor, Feiger distributed the ball evenly throughout the match. Five Jumbo hitters found themselves with double digit attempts to hit, and each hitter recorded between three and six kills during the contest.
"Obviously we want to try to maximize where we hit the ball and spread our offense," Helgeson said. "It's a goal, but it wasn't a focus [on Tuesday night] … [It] was definitely a team effort. I think we worked really well together. We mixed in freshmen and had some changes in the lineup, which keeps us on our toes."
Feiger filled out the box score nicely, racking up 25 assists, seven digs, five kills on only seven attempts, and a couple of service aces just for good measure.
"I was able to do those things because my whole team really works together," Feiger said. "Everybody does their job, and it's due to the others on the team I'm able to do anything. We have great passers and hitters, which makes it easier for me."
With the loss, Gordon had its four-match winning streak snapped, dropping the team's record to 5-5. The Fighting Scots were paced in kills by senior Robin Smalt with six. On the Jumbo side, senior tri-captain libero Natalie Goldstein tallied 14 digs to lead the squad.
Tufts will put its perfect season on the line this weekend when it travels to Bates for a pair of critical matches that will open its NESCAC slate. Tomorrow night, the Jumbos will take on the host Bobcats, who sit at just 3-4 on the season.
The more challenging test, however, will come Saturday at noon, when Tufts will take the court against 6-1 Bowdoin. The Polar Bears are led by freshman Kristin Hanczor, who shared Monday's NESCAC Player of the Week honors with Denniston.
"When we step on a court, we will respect our opponents and go into the match as if we are 0-0," Thompson said. "We need to earn our win every time out there. Records don't pass balls and serve aggressively. That's something we need to do every time out.
"If we do what we need to do on our side of the court, things will go our way," she continued. "When our serving is aggressive and our passing is controlled, then our offense clicks, and the flow continues from there. Bates and Bowdoin are both improved and will be bringing their best to the table. We are not taking anything for granted, and we will work very hard from the first point on to win these matches."
