Volleyball Preview | Tufts looks to build on impressive '07 finish

    Despite having only one senior on the floor and an interim head coach at the helm, the volleyball team still won 10 of its final 11 games before advancing to the 2007 NESCAC semifinals. Tufts finished at 19-13, netting the program its seventh consecutive winning season.
    Now, as the squad kicks off 2008, it will be led by five seniors and returning coach Cora Thompson. With this experience comes the hope that the team can build on 2007, as eyes are on trips to the conference finals and NCAA Tournament.
    "One of our goals every year is to win the NESCAC," Thompson said. "It's a realistic goal. We're going to need to be very disciplined in order to reach that goal. We have five seniors who are very driven and very focused. When they were freshmen, they made the NCAA Sweet 16, and they have that goal in mind."
    After dealing with personal problems that forced her to hand the reigns to then-assistant Marritt Cafarchia, who is now the head coach at Holy Cross, Thompson is back for her sixth season. She is eager to return to a program that has witnessed her amass 120 career wins against 45 losses since her arrival at Tufts in 2002.
    "I love it, and I missed it," she said of coaching. "I think that this isn't just a job for me —  it's a way of life. I don't get up in the morning and think I'm going to work. Last year was hard. It was challenging, but I think that's a lesson in life. There are some things that are more important than volleyball, and it's important to get everything in perspective."
    Building on three years of prior experience on the squad, senior tri-captains Natalie Goldstein, Stacy Filocco and Kate Denniston will lead the Jumbos this season. Goldstein has proven to be one of the top liberos in the conference and has ranked in the top five in digs per game every year in her collegiate career.
    Filocco, along with sophomores Dawson Joyce-Mendive and Caitlin Updike and junior Brogie Helgeson, recorded over 200 kills last season. Denniston, meanwhile, will help anchor the middle, where she racked up 161 kills in 2007.
    "The great thing about our team this year is that we're incredibly deep," Filocco said. "There are more players than we've ever had, and everyone belongs. We go 15 deep, and we go three or four deep at every position. That's going to be what makes our team really special; no matter who's in there, we'll have a chance."
    Still, the Jumbos will have to work to fill the gap left by last year's senior and captain, Katie Wysham (LA '08), who was a dominant force at middle blocker last year. Wysham tallied the most blocks in the conference by a wide margin on her way to earning First Team All-NESCAC and Honorable Mention All-American honors. Three freshmen, Lexi Nicholas, Audre Kuan and Cara Spieler, will be stepping in to fill out the roster.
    "The freshmen are definitely in shape," Thompson said. "There's more of a learning curve at our level, with the high speed and high pace. They're learning a new offense and new defense, at the same time getting to know some names. Athletically, they're completely on par with where this team is and will only get better with experience."
    One area where Tufts will look to improve is in its play against regional competition, particularly MIT. In three matches against the Engineers last season, the Jumbos went 0-3 and lost by a combined score of 9-1.
    "They've been our Boston-area nemesis," Filocco said. "We've gone back and forth with them, but they've gotten the better of us. We're looking forward to showing them how much we've improved."
    Another challenge lying ahead for the Jumbos is their tough schedule, which will take them on the road for nine out of the 10 NESCAC games in which they will compete.
    "Home- and away-court advantage is important," Thompson said. "Everybody feels comfortable in their own gym, but one thing that's made us successful as a program is that we've been able to win on the road, as much, if not more as we win at home," Thompson said. "Our level of play is going to stay at a certain level, and we're going to keep up our intensity no matter where we are."
    Tufts will kick off its season at Cousens Gym Tuesday night with a home contest against the Stonehill Skyhawks.