Sophomore Dawson Joyce-Mendive was awarded NESCAC Player of the Week honors for her outstanding performances over the weekend for the volleyball squad.
Saturday saw Joyce-Mendive lead the Jumbos with 14 kills en route to a 3-0 dismantling of the Trinity Bantams by scores of 25-23, 26-24 and 25-10. Joyce-Mendive's offensive prowess was critical for Tufts and its ability to emerge victorious in the first two games, which were uncomfortably close for the Jumbos. With the win, Tufts finished off its season with an undefeated 10-0 record in the NESCAC and a 27-2 overall mark.
The previous night, Joyce-Mendive and the Jumbos spoiled the Halloween fun for the Wesleyan Cardinals with a 3-1 victory by scores of 25-22, 25-22, 22-25 and 25-21. The win was a special one for the Jumbos, as it guaranteed them the right to host the NESCAC Tournament as the tourney's No. 1 seed. Joyce-Mendive led the Jumbos' offensive efforts with 18 kills in the match.
Additionally, Joyce-Mendive averaged 4.57 kills-per-set while hitting at a .325 success rate across the two contests.
The sophomore joins classmate Caitlin Updike and senior tri-captain Kate Denniston as past Player of the Week honorees. Denniston helped guide the team to a perfect 5-0 start to the season, while Updike posted huge numbers for Tufts during the squad's first-ever MIT Invitational win.
Up next for Joyce-Mendive and the Jumbos is the first round of the NESCAC Tournament this Friday, when they will host the No. 8-seeded Bates Bobcats in Cousens Gym. Tufts took down the Bobcats earlier this year Sept. 19 by a score of 3-1.
